Tamers on the Lamm

Piedmon had been summoned to Zhuqiaomon's audience chamber for the meeting the Dark Master had been dreading.

"Do you realize just how embarrassing this latest incident is?, Zhuqiaomon asked in a tone made all the more threatening for the calm manner in which it was asked.

"Your Holiness".

"How does that infiltrator enter my Hall of Divine Judgment?"

"I've been going over the records, and we screened all IDs. There was nothing suspicious about any of the guests we admitted. They aren't using the usual suspects".

"How does that infiltrator evolve and take out my guards?"

"I am investigating the matter as we speak".

"How does my prisoner manage to escape before my very eyes? How is it that Irbimon could disappear so completely and so suddenly? How is it that Irbimon is still at large?"

"She's still traveling with the Outworld invaders".

"How do those meddlesome Outworlders, those Tamers, get so close to me? How do they attack when there are so few of them? How is it that they feel confident enough to assault me? In front of a live visi-vox audience, no less?"

"Y-y-y-y-your H-h-h-holiness... I... I... don't know..."

"You don't know? YOU DON'T KNOW?!"

"G-g-g-g-ive me some more time... our investigation..."

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but are you not the head of State Security? Is it not your job to know?"

"Y-y-y-y-our... H-h-h-holiness"

"You know how I regard such incompetence?"

"Y-y-y-y-our H-h-h-holiness please! Please! Just give me..."

"Phoenix Fire!"

Piedmon disappeared from the audience chamber as disorganized data.

"Fools and incompetents: I am surrounded by fools and incompetents", Zhuqiaomon complained to himself.

0xFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF

They'd moved away from the immediate area under the cover of Calumon's Perception Filter. They were on the move the rest of that night and through the next day. The Digital World night had arrived. Irbimon was sitting on a log, telling her story:

"I materialized outside a place called 'Pittsburgh', and the digital field was seen by this Outworlder, Paul Morgan. At first, he called me an 'ET', and asked what 'star system' I came from. I told him my name, and where I was from. I asked why he wasn't afraid of me, and he told me I didn't look like I was gonna harm him. He was a little suspicious, at first, considering how I arrived, that I look like a Material World animal, but can talk. That didn't last long, that's when he invited me to his home. He said he couldn't leave me alone, in a strange place. Can I see that device of yours?"

"Sure", Takato said, as he handed her the comm. Irbimon transferred the data directly to the comm. An image appeared on the screen: a typical suburban backyard, a man and woman, both about thirty-ish or so (Takato wasn't too sure about judging the ages of adults) standing behind a couple of kids - a boy and girl - who looked maybe a few years older than Takato and Ruki, and Irbimon. Takato thought how nice it must have been to have such understanding parents.

"I lived with them, and those were some of the happiest days of my life", she was explaining. "They said I was family. It didn't matter to them that I wasn't like them. My partner...", she was not pointing at either of the children in that picture.

"Your Tamer was a grown-up!", Ruki was the first to say it. None of them would've figured... What grown-ups would be the most likely to have partners? They all knew the answer to that: the Wild Bunch - especially Shubumi - or Yamaki. Ruki even mentioned it to Renamon once. They later heard that it was kids, not adults, who were more likely to interact with digimon with the on-line games.

It had not occurred to Takato, or any of the other Tamers, to immediately introduce their partners to their parents. Not even to Jen, even thought he had a couple of very good reasons: his father was one of the creators of digimon, and he had criticized his son over his concern about hurting digimon in that video game. The arrival of Terriermon would have been the perfect "Toldjaso" moment.

"He took me home and introduced me to his wife, Julia, his son, Kirk, and daughter Melissa. We got along right at once. That's when the digivice appeared. Paul didn't know about the cards or anything, but Kirk and Melissa did, and showed him how to use them. We had a few incidents: some feral digimon, and once an Akatorimon came after me. We got rid of them before they could make trouble.

"Then the D-Reaper struck, we watched the whole thing on FOX. Later, I heard about the destruction in the Digital World. I told them I had to go back to help rebuild. I promised to come back. The kids didn't want to see me go, but they understood. Paul gave me a memento - he said it was his high school graduation ring.

"I meant to return to the Material World, then... he took over. I had to destroy Paul's ring, so no one would find out...

"I was betrayed. I don't understand what's happened to our world. The one I called friend betrayed me to the block wardens. They wouldn't listen to my side of the story. I asked them why couldn't I go back to the Material World forever. Seemed reasonable, doesn't it? I would never bother them again, would I? They said they were gonna destroy me. They left me waiting three days, just thinking about it. Paul, his family, would never know why I never came back. They would never know what happened to me. That was the worst...

"I don't understand... so-called 'friends' (finger quotes) betray me. Those I don't even know risk everything to rescue me. It's completely fucked up, upside down, inside out..."

"You will get to go back to Pittsburgh, if you want", Takato declared.

"I don't see how..."

"We haven't exactly figured that out ourselves", Jen explained. "We have some good friends back home working on it".

"Irbimon might want to send a message", Kenta said.

"Would you do that?", she asked.

"We have to get in touch with Yamaki right away", Jen said. "If we needed our partners before... we really need them like yesterday".

Thank you for all you've done", Irbimon said. "If you're going to need help..."

"We would be proud to have you fight by our side", Renamon said.

0xFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF

"As Ryo said, we really got Zhuaiaomon pissed off", Takato was explaining. "I don't know how much longer we can run and hide, and that means we need our partners. Are you sure you don't know anything more?"

"The only clue I was given is: 'Terriermon holds the key'. I don't know more because that was the whole idea: none of us would know everything in case one of us got caught. We couldn't betray the others if we didn't know ourselves", Renamon explained.

"Then it's up to us to figure it out", Jen agreed.

"Could it have been a clue in Terriermon's message?", Takato asked. "How Guilmon dropped that hint with his comment about acts of kindness and senseless beauty?"

"I didn't", Terriermon replied. "It was a straight forward message to Jen and Shiuchon. The only thing I knew was Renamon's location".

"Then it has to be something else", Ruki added.

"Did they leave you with a key?", Jen asked. "How Yamaki loaded Shaggai into you?"

"They didn't so anything like that", Terriermon said. "I'm sure that's not it".

"This is so useless!", Ryo complained.

"So the Legendary Tamer is giving up already?", Ruki replied with sarcasm.

"I kicked your ass once, and I'll do it again. Don't you for…"

"Will allyas SHADDUP!", Impmon called out. "This bickering is driving me nuts, and it's getting us nowhere…"

"It has to have something to do with the Digital World", Lutramon said. "Every other clue did".

Turning to Terriermon: "The last time you were here, did anything unusual happen?"

"Not that I recall…"

"Think".

"Wait a minute", Jen said, "there was something…"

"That freaky water space", Takato added, "after that Catsuramon collapsed Taomon's force field during that storm Hypnos caused, and we were blown away".

"And we met Shibumi", Jen finished that part of the story.

"That underwater library. You don't suppose they're staying there?"

"I don't see how", Jen said, shaking his head. "It was there due to Shibumi's sending his consciousness into the Digital World. After the digignomes sent his consciousness back to the Material World to reunite it with his comatose body, I'm sure it disappeared".

"Did it? We don't know that. The digignomes could have recreated it".

"We're still no closer", Jen complained. "That water space was enormous. Then we just happened to find that doorway into the space where Hangyomon was taking care of those Otamamon, who just happened to know where that conduit was. That conduit connected to all those nodes. Finding that again, I don't see how we can get that lucky. We also found it only because a data stream happened to drop us there. We have no idea how to get back".

"It's time to contact Yamaki. He must know something. Or Shibumi: after all, he created that library in the first place. It's the best we have".

Takato brought up the comm feature:

Dear Mr. Yamaki:

Zhuqiaomon has started conducting executions of formerly partnered digimon. It isn't enough that he destroys their lives, he tortures them to death. This is something we agreed we could not allow, if there were any way at our disposal to prevent it. We were successful in preventing the latest execution, and in destroying the arena where he was conducting these executions. We also assaulted Zhuqiaomon. To quote Ryo: 'We really pissed him off this time'. We are trying to locate our partners as a fight with Zhuqiaomon is imminent.

We believe our partners are in a water space, in Shibumi's library. Originally, we discovered it quite by accident when a data stream dropped Jen, Terriermon and me in that space. Next, we happened upon Hangyomon who knew of an exit into a network of conduits and nodes. There were dozens of them, and I don't see how we are ever going to recreate that bit of luck. Can you ask Shibumi if he knows anything? How he found his way into that space, and if he can recall exactly where it was? We're at an impasse here. We also have on idea how much longer we can hide from Zhuqiaomon, so time is of the essence here.

I also have a request: could you relay a message for us?

"What do want to say?", Takato asked Irbimon.

Paul, Kirk, Melissa: I am OK, and have met some very good friends here in the Digital World. I would have returned sooner, but something terrible happened. A digimon called Zhuqiaomon declared himself "god". He turned out to be a ruthless tyrant, and it is he who is preventing us from returning. Instead, he hunts down and murders all partnered digimon. He calls us 'sinners' who have committed the unforgivable 'sin' of having human friends. I was just moments away from being burned when I was rescued at the last moment.

You remember that D-Reaper incident last year and the ones called 'Tamers' who stopped the D-Reaper? They're back here in the Digital World to rescue their partners and defeat this Zhuqiaomon. It was they who rescued me just in the nick of time. They have other friends in Tokyo who are also doing their part. They seem confident that they can see me back home. I have also agreed to join their efforts, to do my part, so our reunion will have to wait a while longer.

I love you, and I miss you. All of you.

Love,

Irbimon"

"Send that to:

Paul Morgan and Family
5258 Mt. Pleasant
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

USA"

Takato pressed the "Send" icon and soon got a message: "E-mail successfully sent".

"Now we wait"

The Material World: Hypnos Temporary HQ

"You are all well aware of why I requested your return", Chief Yamaki was explaining to the Wild Bunch, "and why I insisted that there be no digital communications".

"I understand that the Tamers are back in the Digital World", Rob "Dolphin" McCoy asked. "Do you believe that this Zhuqiaomon could be a threat?", he added as an after thought.

"So far, we have monitored minor incursions. These Wild Ones were Rookie level, but they were appearing in and around Shinjuku Chou Park, Yodobashi Elementary, in East Shinjuku – all the places the Tamers frequent.. They didn't stay very long, so we have not been able to capture one, however, that was hardly necessary: they were looking for the Tamers. There have been no incursions lately, so I'm assuming Zhuqiaomon knows they're in the Digital World.

"I would have liked nothing better than to see these children return to normal children's lives with normal kid concerns. They've done enough - more than any one of us have a right to ask - it was not to be so. We ask a lot of them, and that is why I ask a lot of you. I think you know that, otherwise, you would not have come".

"Has there been any word?", Daisy asked.

"Takato's latest communique was urgent. The Tamers prevented another public execution of a partnered digimon, and, to quote Ryo: 'really pissed off Zhuqiaomon'. I agree, and we need to get them to their partners without delay. If they were in danger before, that risk just went up several orders in magnitude".

"So where do we begin?", Curly asked.

"Two things", Yamaki explained, "one, we have a new design for another Ark to return the children, and we'll be needing the calculations for re-entry and rematerialization. Secondly, we need to modify Shaggai. I asked you to design for me a weapon of mass destruction to take out every digimon, and the Digital World itself. What I need instead is a more selective weapon that can destroy the Top Layer while eliminating, or at the very least, limiting, the collateral damage to the other layers of the Digital World.

"I don't know how Zhuqiaomon will react if he is opposed Impmon once told me that he believed Zhuqiaomon was perfectly capable of destroying the whole of Tokyo, and God knows what else, as the final act of his life. He claimed, and I agree, that Zhuqiaomon is quite insane. Given the past history, I can't contradict anything he said. Millions of lives could be at stake here..."

"You're telling me the Tamers are expendable?!", Janyu couldn't believe Yamaki was even thinking such a thing. "Jen, Shiuchon..."

"I hope it doesn't come to that, but I have to consider all possibilities".

"THAT is not an option! YAMAKI!""

"We will do everything we can to bring the children home. They also need a home to come back to".

"I understand you have a design for a new Ark", Johnny Beckenstein said, "and you want me to fly it. How do you intend to recreate it? Didn't you need a digivice and a Blue Card?"

"Shibumi coded the Blue Card Algorithm", Yamaki explained "I know where we can get a digivice. That won't be a problem".

"One last thing, Janyu, I need something translated into English", as he handed over hard copy of Takato's latest missive. "That part from Irbimon: get that off to Pittsburgh ASAP, express snail mail".

"If they are in that much trouble", Shibumi began to explain, "then shouldn't I go?"

"Absolutely not", Yamaki objected, "your last ill-advised visit to the Digital World damn near cost you your life. If your land lady hadn't discovered you comatose in your apartment when she did, if the digignomes hadn't acted in such a timely manner, returning your consciousness to your body, you'd be dead right now.

"I'm not sure you'd be of any help, even if you manage to survive a second attempt. The way Takato and Jen explained it, you were barely coherent. Takato thought you were tripping on a heavy dose of acid. If you're that fucked up, then how helpful can you really be?"

"Then what?! Just abandon the kids..."

"You keep telling me how smart your Wild Bunch are. OK, then, show me those smarts and come up with an alternative that won't likely kill you in the process".

"How much time do we have?", Daisy asked.

"Very little, I'm afraid".

"Redesign Shaggai, calculations for returning an Ark you don't have yet? That's asking a helluvalot..."

"I know it is, but if anyone can do it, it's the Wild Bunch".

"Let's have a look at the design for the Ark", Beckenstein requested.

Janyu brought up the CAD program at a work station.

"This time, we combined features from both Grani and the original design. We hope to give the kids and their partners a more comfortable ride".

"I don't see any sort of weapons systems".

"We were designing a passenger craft".

"We can't be sure we can evacuate the kids unopposed. Even though it's not a fighter, and won't handle like one, I'd still like to see some sort of defensive capability, just in case".

"Easily enough modified to include the Yuggoth Blaster system. That proved very effective before".

"Also, vectored thrust and VTOL capability. No way to predict what conditions'll be like in the Digital World. A nice long runway probably isn't gonna be available or convenient".

"Way ahead of you there, that's already been designed in".

"Now, if only you can get it off the drawing board".

Digital World

"New messages from Yamaki?", Takato asked.

"I don't know", Jen said. "Juri was the last to have it, said something about downloading some songs... about an hour ago. Come to think of it, haven't seen Shadowkitsumon either".

"Said they were 'exploring'", Kazu informed them.

(Juri, completely naked, lay between the soft grass of a meadow by a brook and her partner. Shadowkitsumon's hips were still between her thighs. She ran her hands through his fur as their lips parted. She looked into the emerald green, fox eyes.

"Was this more to your liking?", he asked.

"It's a beautiful spot", she congratulated.)

"They should know better..."

Kenta said as he made a circle with a thumb and index finger as he slid the other index finger in and out of the loop. "I didn't know 'exploring' was the latest slang for sex. Come to the Digital World and it's Jurimon digivolve to Slutmon!"

"Kenta!", Ruki reprimanded, "why don't you try acting just a little grown up for a change! Surprise us, just once".

Ruki got up and Renamon followed.

"What's with her? Back to the Digital World and it's back to little Miss Bossy Bitch", Kenta complained.

"Not hard to figure", Jen said. "She was chasing Leomon all through the park and around the parking lot. He wasn't running from an over enthusiastic tamer-wannabe. I knew there was more to it than that. Leomon never looked 100% comfortable around Juri.

"Now we get to the Digital World where no one knows us and we know no one, no reputations, no worry about parents and friends from school finding out. San Francisco is still a wild town and that got started with the Forty Niners".

"You're not looking well", Renamon said. "Anything..."

"What Kenta said..."

"We all know he..."

"You don't think I don't have those feelings too? Sometimes I wish you were a guy"

"Ruki"

"We're back", Juri announced.

"You shouldn't run off like that without letting us know you're going", Takato reprimanded. "What if you ran into Zhuqiaomon's agents?"

"They're not looking around here", Juri explained. "Besides, it was personal business".

"You can't know that! We need the comm, I'm hoping Yamaki has something for us".

"New message from Yamaki", Takato announced. Everyone gathered around.

The Wild Bunch are back at Hypnos. I have them working on a redesign of a new Ark that should not only bring you back in comfort, but we are also including Yuggoth Blasters in case we have to evacuate you under fire. I'm hoping this won't be necessary.

We intend to reprogram Shaggai as a more selective weapon, and not the weapon of mass destruction and genocide it was originally. You need not be concerned, it is no longer my intention, nor desire, to eliminate all digimon. If we are to fight Zhuqiaomon, we will need Shaggai. I know how you'll feel about returning it to full functionality, and I am asking for your trust here.

As for locating that library, we're still working on possible solutions that won't put Shibumi's life at risk. Will contact you when we know more.

Mitsou Yamaki