Reunion
It wasn't until afternoon the day after they'd thought they'd lost Siuchon until they were underway again, Kapurimon's making more promises that they were getting closer, and their doubts as to whether he knew what he was talking about silently growing. Impmon hung back with Juri.
"Juri, what I wanted to ask, if you don't mind... how do you deal with it? Loss, I mean. I never lost anyone close to me..."
"Impmon, I'm just about the last one to ask for advice. I handled it pretty badly... both times: first my mom, then Leomon. I wasn't a good girl at all, and for a good long while. It was a shock to both of us: me and my dad. He seemed so lost, until he got married again. I was like five years old, and right there in the hospital room when the doctor pronounced her dead, and pulled a sheet over her head. I ran away, and wanted to keep on running forever. I can't say I ever got over it. My step-mom is really nice, and I really tried to like her... But... but she felt too much like an interloper and I rejected any show of affection. It upset her, and I disappointed my dad. I really strained our relationship. Father was disappointed, and it showed. He was harsh with me, using any little excuse to punish me.
"I didn't trust him enough to tell him about Leomon, and I made it clear to him that he was never to visit me when he could be seen. I felt closer to Leomon than to my own parents, and could tell him things about me I dare not say to my parents. Then Calumon was kidnapped, and Takato declared we were going to the Digital World to rescue him. That's when Takato finally told his parents about Guilmon, and what he was planning to do. He later told me his dad sent along extra bread for Guilmon, and he gave his blessings Takato to be successful. I know his mother wasn't able to say it, but later I was there when he discovered the letter that said what she could not say in person and she gave him a good luck charm.
"Ruki did the same, and her grandmother accepted Renamon right from the get-go... I couldn't. I couldn't let my dad and step-mom know about Leomon; I never said a word about where I was going, what I was doing, and I didn't care. I didn't think they would care if I went missing. I even convinced myself they'd welcome my disappearance. Then they could be happier without me.
"Then Leomon died, and I remember thinking 'Not again'. I selfishly misinterpreted what Leomon meant by 'destiny' to justify wallowing in my own self pity. I fucked up everything I could in every possible way.
"It took the ordeal of the Kernel Sphere to finally teach me the lessons I most needed to learn: you won't ever get over it until you can forgive..."
"Forgive Zhuqiaomon?", Impmon asked.
"No. Forgive yourself. It wasn't your fault, and you could have done nothing to prevent it. That's what Renamon said: 'Not the sorrow over losing Leomon, the sorrow of not being able to prevent it', Ruki told me that later on. Other than that, it just takes time, and being willing to believe it will get better. That's where I made my biggest mistake: I didn't believe, not when mom died, and not after Leomon. That's all I can really say, and I'm not the best one to be giving advice".
"It's better than you realize".
"We're here!", Kapurimon announced. "Everybody: gather around".
"Where?", Ruki asked.
"Just wait, you'll see", Kapurimon replied.
They stood there, looked around and saw nothing that would lead them to believe this spot was any different from any other patch of the endless expanse of sand. One moment, the ground felt solid beneath their feet, and the next, it felt as though it had disappeared. They were falling down a long, circular, vertical shaft. At first, they could see nothing in the darkness. Then, a light speck appeared. The speck grew in size; they realized they were looking at the far end of the shaft. It was as unnerving as the fall into the Digital World itself.
They emerged maybe sixty meters above the tallest trees of a forest by a river. They came down, dropping through branches, to land on the forest floor. They should have been banged up pretty good; they were unharmed.
Ruki stood up: "This place looks vaguely familiar", she announced. She looked up at the sky but did not see any trace of an opening. She did notice, however, that the Material World Sphere looked smaller than it did back in the Sand Zone.
"Sure does", Juri agreed.
"I know this place!", Kazu announced. "This is where I met Guardromon... I'm certain of it".
"You've been here before?", Takato asked.
"You and Jen weren't with us the last time", Juri explained.
"Where do we go from here?", he asked, "Kapurimon..."
"That way", Juri said, as she pointed to a plume of smoke or steam rising above the trees. It looked a good deal thicker than Ruki recalled. They made their way through the forest, maybe a half-kilometer. They emerged into a clearing. Before, what had been a large house with a court yard surrounded by a brick wall was now a much larger facility, with several tall silver columns, and considerably larger smoke stacks. All surrounded with chain link fence topped with multiple coils of razor wire.
"How did you know?", Kenta asked Kapurimon.
"I told you: we supplement our poor eyesight with echolocation. You can find these gateways from one level to another, but they're not always so obvious. Guilmon described the last time you guys happened onto it, but he wasn't too sure as to its exact location. He left it up to me to find it again. Even though the sand looks normal, the gateway appears to sound waves. Once in the general area, the rest was easy".
They were suddenly surrounded by a large group of gekomon, though small, they were heavily armed and none too friendly. "We'd like to see the Brewmeister", Juri requested.
"Shut up! You'll see him soon enough. Now get moving!", one of them ordered.
"Dark Sky..." Shadowkitsumon began to attack.
"Don't!" Juri ordered. "We need to find Terriermon. I'm sure it's just some sort of misunderstanding"
"I don't understand...", she began to ask the gekomon.
"I told you to keep your goddamn mouth shut!"
They had no choice but to fall in line, and follow these gekomon. They arrived at a gate with a guardhouse. The lead gekomon opened a call-box:
"Sir, we caught more spies snooping around the grounds..."
"Some look like Outworlders..."
"I understand..."
"Right away".
The gate was buzzed open, and they headed for the main building. "Stop looking around. Eyes forward... all of you", the rather unpleasant little Gekomon ordered. They didn't enter the main building, but rather a smaller facility off to one side.
"Enter", ordered a voice to a knock. Seated behind a desk to fit his stature was the Brewmeister.
"These the ones?", he asked.
"Yes, we caught..."
"That will be all. Leave us", he ordered.
"Sir?"
"You heard me", he ordered.
The Brewmeister got out from behind the desk and walked over to the group. He gave Takato, Jen, and Ryo a good looking over.
"Yes, Juri, Ruki, Kazu, Kenta: I remember you. These three, he pointed with his walking stick at Takato, Jen and Impmon, I haven't seen before, and you seem to be with different partners. Are you willing to vouch for them?"
"They're with us. We can't be with our partners and they are the guardians they sent in their place. That's why we're here: we're looking for our partners, and we were led to believe...", Ruki began to explain.
The Brewmeister walked 360 degrees around Kapurimon, eying him suspiciously the whole time.
"I was led to believe I was expecting Metalkoromon. Who the hell are you?"
"I am Metalkoromon, it's just that I digivolved. I was pretty much ready to advance to the next level anyway".
"Are you sure about this one?"
"Positive: we were there when he digivolved, shortly after his dormancy broke back there in the Chuchidarumon village. He led us here", Takato explained.
"What's going on here?", Ruki asked. "I thought with Orochimon gone, you'd be out of the moonshine business".
"A lot has changed since you were here last. Trust is a rare commodity these days… Speaking of trust, how do I know you are who you say you are?"
"I'm not sure how you mean...", Ruki started.
"Don't you remember? We brought Andromon here and you didn't want to help him", Juri began. "Then Orochimon took me to his island to serve him sake, and keep him company".
"And I begged you to help", Kenta said. "I guess I must've scared you a bit because you agreed to let us have some hooch to treat Andromon..."
"After Andromon recovered and became Guardromon, we asked if you'd help us sneak onto Orochimon's island so's we could rescue Juri. You finally decided to conceal us in the barrels of sake you guys were delivering because you wanted to return to your former lives of singing and dancing...", Kazu explained. "Leomon said that".
"I've heard enough. You aren't Zhuqiaomon's impostors. When Zhuqiaomon took over, we had to start up the operation to make all the damn taxes. Officially, this is still a moonshine distillery, but off the books, we mostly make alcohol for fuel. With taxes being so high, we can sell it even at premium, black market prices and still give the customers a break. We know we're living on borrowed time... Things were better when Orochimon was all we had to deal with. Which one of you is Jen Lee?"
"That would be me", Jen replied.
"Does the term, 'Moumentai' mean anything to you?"
"It sure does! Terriermon used to say that all the time. It means 'no problem' or 'take it easy'".
"Come with me", the Brewmeister said. Jen got up to leave, and so did the others.
"Just Jen. The rest of you stay here and don't attempt to leave". The threat in his voice was unmistakable.
"Jeez, I thought these gekomon were supposed to be so light-hearted and a bit on the cowardly side", Kenta said after Jen and his escort had gone.
"Zhuqiaomon has that effect alright", Impmon replied. "Expect more of this before we're done".
They waited long minutes before they heard the door. Jen and the Brewmeister had returned with Terriermon back in his proper place: perched on Jen's shoulder, one long ear holding on.
"Terriermon! It really is you!"
Terriermon jumped down, and greeted Calumon in the usual way by bumping stomachs: "Been practicing your Tai Chi?", he asked.
"Good to see you again!"
"I really missed you", Siuchon called out.
"I know", Terriermon said. "I may not have appreciated at the time how you used to play 'dress up', but I came to miss it after I left you. I was wondering if you were going to make it, find a way... I'm so happy to see you did. Good to have you back... all of you".
"Now that that's settled, enjoy some gekomon hospitality...", the Brewmeister invited.
"So far, I'm not impressed", Ruki replied.
"Did you think I would turn over one of our leaders just on your say-so?", the Brewmeister countered. "Zhuqiaomon's agents and secret police are everywhere. I don't know they can't impersonate humans, and I had to make sure you were really who you claimed. Quite frankly, I, for one, will be glad to see all of you go. It was hard enough keeping Terriermon hidden".
"We appreciate all you've done, and I'm sure it wasn't easy for you", Jen explained. "Times are getting tough for all of us, and we have also suffered losses. We won't impose on your hospitality more than we have to".
"Losses?", the Brewmeister asked.
"My guardian, Devidramon", Impmon explained. "Zhuqiaomon's dorugremon attacked us, and he was killed in the battle".
"My condolences for your loss".
"What are your plans, Kapurimon? Are you coming?", Juri asked.
"I… don't know; I'm considering it. I know I'm not a Guardian, and I don't want to be a burden, slow you up. I don't know what I can do for your efforts. I have others who are undoubtedly worried about what happened to me after I got on that Iron Beast".
"Don't worry, if you want to come with us, you're more than welcome".
"I appreciate the thought…", Kapurimon said.
"How about you?", Terriermon asked Lynxmon.
"I'm gonna see this thing through. We've come too far to quit now".
The Brewmeister handed a flask to each one: "Gekomon moonshine. Illegal fuel isn't all we make. For the road, and the best of luck to all of you".
"So how are we going?", Juri asked.
"Wait till dark, and take the river", the Brewmeister explained. "We have a fleet of fast rum runners, and we know where the next passage out of this zone is located. I was hoping you'd get here sooner. I can't guarantee Zhuqiaomon's agents aren't aware of it by now", he explained.
"Since we have some time to kill, would it be OK if I took Ikkakumon swimming?", Siuchon asked. "I'm sure he'd like to wash the sand out of his fur", she explained.
"There's that pond where Orochimon's island was", Juri explained.
"The grounds are well guarded", the Brewmeister explained, "and you'll be OK".
"We could all go swimming...", Takato began.
"I prefer swimming nekkid", Ruki said.
"But Ikkakumon's a guy, so are a lot of the other guardians".
"I'm just warning you. Come or don't, I don't care one way or the other".
Ruki inherited the digimons' lack of modesty, a side effect of biomerging with Renamon to become Sakuyamon. Once, soon after returning from the Digital World, she entered the kitchen completely naked. When asked why she wasn't dressed, all she could say was: "I forgot".
When Hypnos intercepted communications from the D-Reaper's observation drones, they accidentally broadcast her, Takato, and Jen naked as jay birds, in their partners' Data Spheres on public access cable.
"Why would you mind? After Hypnos screwed up half of Tokyo saw us naked".
"Well, I do", Juri protested.
"Just take turns", Jen said, "Since it was Siuchon's idea, the girls can swim, then we'll take our turn. I'd like to wash up too", he said.
Terriermon was the only one who stayed behind with the guys.
"There's something you need to know about Renamon, and I didn't want to mention it in front of Ruki", Terriermon began.
"What..."
"Renamon almost got caught. She was staying in a safe house on File Island, and we thought it would be OK, nice place, out of the way... We were wrong...", Terriermon explained. "Somehow, Zhuqiaomon's secret police found out - I don't know if we were betrayed or not. Fortunately, Renamon got away, thanks to a sympathetic Whamon, otherwise, she wouldn't've made it. She went underground, but there was a price to pay. She's working for a pimp in the harbor town of Slimbdamon..."
"What are you trying to say?", Jen interrupted. "Just say it".
"Alright!", Terriermon replied sharply. "Renamon had to do... things... things she's not proud of, but it was necessary if she was to survive. The sorts of things she doesn't want Ruki to know about".
"What could she possibly..."
"Do I have to spell it out?!", Terriermon had never used that tone that Jen could ever recall.
"No, you don't", Ryo intervened. "I get the idea".
0xFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
The two sleek, fast boats sliced through the water. Each about 15 meters in length, with a shallow draft for maneuvering in shallows, powered by two 1500HP engines capable of doing 45 knots while loaded with Gekomon Moonshine were making even better time now that the Tamers and their partners were the only cargo. They were running full out, without lights; they had to trust that the Gekomon pilots knew this river as well as they claimed. Otherwise, the resulting crash into a hidden sandbar would result in instant deletion. It was known to happen.
Harpymon had flown ahead to survey the area, to patrol the river. Via Ruki's digivice, she had given the "all clear" before they set out. Zhuqiaomon's agents hadn't been around the next passage; the river traffic nothing out of the ordinary: barges, fishing boats, what few pleasure craft the few digimon who still had the means to afford such luxuries.
Harpymon sat by the river bank, looking over the dark water, waiting, listening. Her ears pricked up as she heard the faint thrum of engines. She stood up, and lit a flare and waved it back and forth. Finally, the boats appeared in the faint glow of the Material World Sphere, as she threw the flare into the water with a hiss.
Ruki and her companions joined her, as they waved to the two Gekomon pilots as they backed their rum runners to return to the moonshine/illicit fuel factory.
"Should we wait for daylight?", Kazu asked.
"It's best if we get going right now", Harpymon explained. "The gekomon seemed to have a certain urgency that we leave ASAP, and I'm inclined to believe they know what they're talking about. I don't like the idea of traveling through the forest at night, but in this case, best to make an exception. Just be careful where you step", she admonished.
Takato had his Maglite, and dialed its beam to its narrowest to make their passage less conspicuous. That saved the possibility of broken ankles. After a couple of hours, they came upon the next passageway. This time, it was one of those improbable spiral staircases. One end, a vertical shaft into the ground, the other an impossible hole in what looked like limitless sky.
"Up or down?", Kenta asked.
"Down, the Brewmeister told me", Terriermon replied. "We'll meet up with Renamon there".
"I don't know if I can do this", Ikkakumon said.
"You climbed ice floes before? How is this different?", Kazu asked.
"Maybe we should go first", Siuchon announced. "If you go backwards, you won't fall".
Ikkakumon went first, backwards, with Siuchon following right behind. Takato adjusted his Maglite for flood, as the passage was indeed pitch black. Ikkakumon was relieved when he felt his hind feet back on solid ground.
They discovered they were in another temperate area. Not thickly forested, but looking more like a rural area. Impmon brought up a map of the new area, and it was indeed farmland. They were a couple of day's worth of walking before arriving at a port city: Slimbdamon.
They found an underpass, more like a culvert, where they could spend the rest of that night before setting off at daylight. Kenta and Kazu passed around the last of the MREs.
"Hopefully, we can resupply at that city", Kazu said.
"I don't know about you, but maybe we could hitch instead of walk?", Kenta suggested.
"And risk getting caught?", Ruki objected. "You have no sense..."
"Ruki", Harpymon objected.
"You're getting as bad as Renamon".
"Enough", Takato objected. "A little walking never did anyone any harm. We'll see Renamon soon enough".
0xFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
Ruki was surveying the city from a hilltop. It appeared that there was an upscale area up on the surrounding hills. The harbour looked quite busy, lots of ships being berthed, unloaded, and others waiting their turn in the bay. The whole waterfront had a seedy look to it. That was unfortunate since it was the waterfront area that was their destination.
Shadowkitsumon was explaining: "There is no law down there but the Law of the Digital World. Lots of digimon from lots of zones mingle along the docks, and the waterfront bars. It's a rough trade crowd, very dangerous, lots of wanted criminals find sanctuary here because there's no real law. Being at sea for weeks on end, pockets filled with credits, a bellyful of Gekomon Moonshine... need I explain the consequences?
"The shipping magnates live in the surrounding hills. There's an unwritten code of honour: the riff-raff stays well away from the upscale areas in exchange for the police looking the other way down by the docks..."
"Renamon's down there?", Ruki asked.
"What better place to hide? Even Zhuqiaomon's police avoid the place, they're not totally suicidal. Who'd be expecting to find a leader of the No Confidence Party there, of all places? Especially after that narrow escape from File Island. Don't worry, you said yourself your partner's a natural born warrior. Today we do some looking around, and tomorrow we get Renamon".
Below the hill, unseen from the nearby highway, plans were being made.
"As soon as the night arrives, Mikemon and I will go, gather intel..."
"What about the rest of us?", Lutramon asked.
"Sit tight. It's best if you stay out of sight until you're needed. The fewer familiar faces seen, the better"
"Something's not right here... You've been acting peculiar ever since we left the gekomon. What're you hiding?", Ruki asked Takato.
"You trust me, don't you?", Takato said. "After all we've been through, have you ever known me to steer you wrong?"
"No, you haven't, I have to admit".
"We know what we're doing, just have a bit more patience. That's all I ask".
Night came, and Shadowkitsumon and Mikemon headed down the road. They split up before entering the city itself. The first thing Shadowkitsumon saw on the street was a Coelamon and a MarineDevimon going at it. This looked like a barroom brawl that had just spilled into the street. Neither seemed none too sober, nor did the crowd that was pouring into the street from the neighboring bars and saloons. They were yelling curses and encouragement for their respective champions. Just another form of entertainment.
"Darkness Blast!", MarineDevimon fired, as the Coelamon burst into data, which MarineDevimon loaded. Unconcerned, he swaggered past Shadowkitsumon. The rest of the crowd began to disperse, heading back into the bars while settling bets. Shadowkitsumon acted as though he hadn't noticed. Minding one's own business was a survival skill here. He went his way.
At an intersection, he heard someone call out: "Hey Joe, wanna give it a go?"
He turned, it was a Ladymarmamon working the streets. He made the hands out, palms up gesture indicating he was broke. She paid him no further attention. He followed the glow of a garish sign. At the end of a side street, by the water, he found what he was looking for: the Max Ass Pleasure Club. The signage bright and garish, with animated exotic dancers and a marquee advertising their evening's entertainments. Even at such an early hour, lines were forming. Goblimon bouncers admitted some guests, and turned others away. He continued observing from a discreet distance.
That it was by the sea, a good thing as that meant Ikkumon could approach from the water. That there were no high rises nearby meant clearance for an air assault. He was under no illusions this would be easy, and they would almost certainly not be leaving with Renamon without a fight. He wondered how Mikemon was making out.
0xFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
"What did you find out?", Takato asked as soon as Shadowkitsumon and Mikemon returned.
"Renamon is staying at the Max Ass Pleasure Club", Shadowkitsumon was saying"
"Not in front of...", Terriermon interrupted.
"She needs to know, and I don't doubt she can handle it", he objected.
"What...", Ruki asked.
"Renamon didn't want you to know", Terriermon explained.
"It's too late for that, there'll be no keeping it...", Shadowkitsumon objected. "After all these Outworlders have seen and done up till now, what's a little bad news, regardless of how disturbing?"
"I don't care what Renamon did: I'm her partner, now and forever".
"She's working there as a stripper and prostitute under the name 'Goldilocks'. After the File Island fiasco, she didn't have much choice for staying underground. Her name and picture were on the marquee".
"Oh...", was all Ruki could say, as this was the last thing she expected.
"Now you see..."
"Terriermon!", Jen called out.
"Moumentai"
"So we just go down there and she's out?", Ruki asked. "Doesn't seem too dificult".
"It's not going to be that simple", Mikemon explained. "That club is owned by a notorious and brutal pimp: Ganemon. He's not gonna just let one of his girls go. He has a reputation, and he runs his operation with an iron fist. Pimping, crooked gambling, price gouging: he's into all of it, a real piece of work".
"That brings us to another problem", Shadowkitsumon was explaining. "You don't get by his bouncers easily. Have any credits?"
"I have this", Juri dug into her purse and fished out a ten dollar bill.
"Where'd you get that?", Jen asked.
"Tourist at the bar and grill. Dad thought I might like it".
"We can use it for something", Kyukimon announced. "Got something to
write with?"
Takato fished out a red Sharpie and handed it to Kyukimon. He wrote something in digicode.
"That's not going to do it, I'm afraid", Shadowkitsumon said.
"The comm: it's about the only thing of value, but we need that".
"Now what?", Jen asked.
"We do have something we can sell", Shadowkitsumon said.
"What..."
"The girls"
"You're... not serious?!", Ryo objected. "You wouldn't..."
"I see no alternatives. You need to be a big spender or you don't anywhere near that place, let alone in".
"We go and..."
"Get past Ganemon's goblimon without endangering Renamon, the other girls, the patrons - not that I really care about anyone who'd go there? Not too damn likely. Storm the place from the outside, and who knows what Ganemon'll do? I guarantee you: you won't like it. We need to be on the inside, and that takes credits which we don't have".
"What's the problem? I'll do it", Ruki said. "If it's the only..."
"No, Ruki, I'll do it", Juri objected.
"She's my partner..."
"And your mug was all over the news. I don't mean just the press conference. When Yamaki screwed up and broadcast you naked all over Tokyo, you don't think Zhuqiaomon didn't notice? How many remote cameras were you on? I wasn't there for that presser, and I spent most of the time in the Kernel Sphere. I'm much less recognizable. It has to be me... or Siuchon".
"I'll take that chance..."
"You get recognized and you're as good as on your way to /dev/null along with Renamon", Juri insisted. "What you're proposing is suicide! I can't..."
"I can't believe we're even having this discussion!", Ryo objected. "I'll be the one..."
"Sorry, but Ganemon isn't into the gay thing", Shadowkitsumon said. "I don't believe he even knows what that is, and I don't think he's sexually aware. All he knows is that it's profitable".
"Enough!", Juri interrupted. "Siuchon is too young, and Ruki too well known. I have to be the one. Besides, I know English and can pretend to be American, I also won the lead role for the school play back before we knew digimon were here. Have you, Ruki?"
"Before making up your mind, you need to consider just what you're getting into", Shadowkitsumon explained. "There is a very good chance you will be... ummmmmm... violated. I'll do what I can to see that doesn't happen, but I can't make any promises. If that happens, you'd damn well make like you enjoyed it, otherwise we're dead. Am I making myself clear enough for you?"
"Yes, I have..."
"No you don't!", Ryo said. "We know where Renamon is, we get the rest of our partners, and we..."
"How long will that take?", Juri asked. "You want to leave her..."
"I don't..."
"Shut up Ryo", Ruki told him. "I'll..."
"I already told you why not...", Juri objected, "I won't take the chance we lose you... or anyone!"
"Let's sleep on it and see where we go tomorrow", Mikemon ended the argument.