Chapter 14. Wise Counsel

Odaiba, Japan; October 3, 2010 – 8:05 pm

It was half an hour past sunset when Tai and Kari arrived at Rainbow Park for the Digidestined meeting. They had taken to having them more often lately, in spite of their disparate busy schedules, to debrief each other on any digimon-related events that had occurred since then. They usually managed to have them about once a week, though the level of participation varied quite a bit. Tai was pleasantly surprised how much of an effort everyone made to take part in them now that they had a sort of mission again: that of preparing other teams of Digidestined to take over for them when the time came. Of course, it helped that these meeting were usually pretty brief. Depending on what time of day it was held, sometimes Mimi was able to attend via video chat, though because of the extreme time difference this was rarely possible.

They used Izzy's company lounge as a kind of unofficial hub, meeting there about fifty percent of the time, though they would also go to various hangouts for a change of scenery and so as to be less predictable. This time they met at one of the playgrounds at Rainbow Park; at this hour it was quite vacant, and made a pleasant spot to gather together provided one dressed warmly enough. Sora was there sitting on the end of a slide with Matt standing propped against the side of it beside her. Izzy and Joe were in swings to the right with their partners on the ground nearby, and across from them Davis and Veemon were perched on top of the monkey bars (which made Joe a little nervous) with their feet dangling through the rungs. Beside it T.K., Cody, and their digimon squatted on two sections of a small merry-go-round. As they approached, Kari squeezed into a spot beside T.K. and hooked her arm inside his; Tai remained standing where he was, and so closed the gap of their makeshift circle.

"Hey guys," Tai greeted. "Is anybody else coming, or is this it?"

Izzy shook his head. "Yolei's still in Barcelona, where it's the middle of the night. It's likely still too early for Mimi to be up yet, and Ken couldn't make it—he didn't say why."

"All right, then. Let's get started. First thing's first: no one else's bond has started to break down yet, have they?" To Tai's relief, he was met with only the shaking of heads in answer. "Does anyone know of someone else who has?" Again, more head-shakes. These had become his routine opening questions for these meetings, and so far the answer had always been negative.

Moving on, Tai asked, "Does anyone know how things are with the Dark Spore Digidestined?"

Davis raised his hand. "Ken told me yesterday that he's contacted them all and they're willing to follow his teaching. From the sound of it they're pretty excited to have his help since most of their partners can be quite a handful; apparently they're a bit more aggressive than normal, even at the Rookie stage. Some of them are even virus types."

Tai frowned. "That's a little worrisome."

"But he also said he's met with a few of them individually and the results look promising," Davis continued. "He's pretty confident he and Wormmon will be able to help them."

"Well, that's good," said Sora hopefully.

Tai nodded in agreement. "All right. Who's next?"

"Hey Joe, how did that thing in Indonesia go?" T.K. prompted. "I saw in the group chat that you went there."

Joe straightened his glasses on the bridge of his nose. "Yeah, I went with Cody to meet some local Digidestined about a mile or so off the coast of Jakarta for some sea-battle training—about how to form as a group and execute maneuvers in tandem, what to do if you get separated from your partner in open sea, stuff like that. Well, they ended up getting more than they bargained for cause it turns out that a Whamon happened to phase through just as we were finishing up, so those kids got to have some real life experience battling a digimon stronger than them!" Joe said with a chuckle.

"Oh wow!" Kari exclaimed. "Is everyone all right?"

This time Gomamon answered with a wave of his flipper. "Yeah, everybody's fine. With my help as Ikkakumon, we were able to subdue that whale and send him back to the Digital World before things could get out of hand. Although that one kid with the Dolphmon probably would've drowned if Submarimon hadn't been there. But he's totally okay now though!"

"I think you may be exaggerating a bit, Gomamon," Joe argued gently. "He just got knocked a few feet under the surface and ended up swallowing a couple mouthfuls of water. Anyway, the team did a really impressive job for their first time in a sea-fight, all things considered. I was really pleased how well they came together. Do you agree, Cody?"

The younger boy nodded. "Yeah, I'm happy with their progress, and they were very grateful for the training and advice we provided. Oh, and your first-aid lessons."

Armadillomon raised his arm into the air for attention. "But d'ya think next time we could get someone else to play the injured digimon?" he requested. "It didn't work very well when they tried to practice wrapping me up in bandages because my armor is so hard and slick."

"That, and because you kept squirming and laughing when they tried," Cody added with a smirk.

"I can't help it! I'm mighty ticklish around my shell, everybody knows that," Armadillomon protested.

"Good work, guys," Tai praised, indicating Joe and Cody. "Thanks for helping those kids out."

"No problem!" Armadillomon and Gomamon said in unison.

The group fell silent for a few moments, waiting to see who else would speak.

"Does anyone else have something to add?" Tai prompted.

"How about you, Tai?" Matt countered with a hint of concern. "You look like you've got something on your mind. What's up?"

That forced a small smile out of Tai. "Can't hide anything from you, can I, Matt? If no one else wants to go, then yeah, I've got an update to share.

"I think the floor is yours, Tai," said Izzy after another moment of quiet.

"All right," Tai answered, straightening a little. "I paid Menoa another visit today." The mood around the circle immediately grew more somber.

"How is she?" asked Sora.

"Not good," Tai admitted. "She's depressed, and feels tremendous guilt over what she's done. And she's really freaked out about this meeting she had with the prosecutor a few days ago."

Cody turned his head from where it had been propped on his chin with interest. "Oh? What happened?"

"She told me that some attorney named Drukhovich from the Office of the Prosecutor came to her cell. She said that they're having a difficult time filing specific charges because there's technically no law against what Menoa did. So it might be a while longer before she even gets—"

Cody sat bolt upright and snapped his fingers. "Of course! That's right." His eyes darted back and forth rapidly as the ramifications of Tai's words sank in, muttering to himself. "Ex post facto. Any new law they might pass can't apply to Menoa retroactively. That means…"

Cody stood up, unable to contain his burst of excitement. "They have to let her go. Tai, that's actually great news!"

Tai looked skeptical. "What do you mean?"

"Don't you see?" said Cody. "If there's no law against what she's done, then no crime has been committed! They have no reason to hold her!"

Tai remained guarded in the face of Cody's enthusiasm, however, his features displaying confused disbelief rather than the hope Cody intended to bring. "Then why was Menoa so upset if this is such good news?" he asked.

Cody began to stammer a reply, but Izzy interrupted. "Hang on, Cody," the genius advised. "I know what you're saying, and in principle I agree with you that she should be acquitted, but this is a delicate and complicated situation and I doubt this will prove to be so cut-and-dry. Let Tai finish what he was saying, and perhaps things will become clearer."

"I—uhm, right. Forgive my outburst," apologized Cody, "I got carried away. Please continue."

"Menoa said Drukhovich told her that though there is disagreement over the specific charges to bring against her, that there will be a trial. She said something about the absence of legislation actually giving the prosecution a lot of freedom."

"But that's insane!" Cody protested. "You can't be put on trial for something that breaks no law! Legally speaking, they must set her free!"

Matt scowled. "They're obviously playing fast and loose with the rules. You may be right, Cody. But it's the U.N. They can pretty much do what they want."

"It isn't right!" Cody growled.

Izzy stood out of his swing. "Think of it this way: suppose she had succeeded in doing something truly awful—like say, killing several people—but in a totally unique way that had never been done before, so unique that no one had ever bothered to make a law about it because no one had ever thought of it before."

Cody shook his head. "It's still murder. The specific method shouldn't matter, the accused should still go to trial regardless."

"Exactly," Izzy nodded gravely. "The reality is that she abducted a prodigious number of individuals, even if she used a unique method to accomplish it. That's not something you can just sweep away on a technicality. I assume that's the logic the prosecution will utilize in proceeding with the trial. Am I right?" Izzy asked, turning to Tai.

"She did say most of the charges would be 'some type of kidnapping'", Tai mused.

"That...does sort of make sense…" Cody grudgingly admitted.

"There's more," Tai said. "Drukhovich claimed that because there's no precedent for this case, the sky's the limit when it comes to her punishment. She said that Menoa could face a twenty year sentence, or life in prison…" Tai took a deep breath. "...or even the death penalty."

"No way!" Joe blurted in surprise.

"You've gotta be kidding!" T.K. yelled, outraged.

"Aw, dude, that's harsh!" Davis sighed in disbelief.

Cody stood shocked and wide-eyed. "The...death penalty?"

"Is there anything we can do to help her?" asked Sora.

Tai hung his head. "I don't know. From the sound of it, Drukhovich positively enjoyed telling Menoa that, saying that she would fight for the harshest sentence available. Menoa's absolutely terrified."

"Who wouldn't be?" said Joe. "This Drukhovich person sounds like a real piece of work. Why does she have it out for Menoa so bad?"

Tai shrugged. "I have no idea."

"Could she be bluffing?" T.K. suggested. "A scare tactic to try to get Menoa to confess?"

"I said that too," Tai replied. "But Menoa didn't seem to think so."

"I find that unlikely as well," added Izzy. "Logically there's little reason for Drukhovich to bluff. There's an abundance of evidence out there to prove her guilt. I'm sorry to say it, but whatever sentence the courts decides to mete out, Menoa will most likely pay it. I see very little hope of her being set free."

Tai shook his head sharply. "I can't accept that," he said in a low voice. "There's got to be something we can do!"

Cody had stood quietly during the last few comments absorbed in his own thoughts, but having reached some internal decision now stepped forward and approached Tai with steely determination in his emerald eyes. "Let me help, Tai." It was a simple request, spoken softly enough that those further away could scarcely hear it, but it contained an earnest, almost pleading quality to it that revealed the strength of his desire.

"What?" Tai asked, as if he was unsure that he had heard correctly.

"Let me help," Cody repeated. "I can help her, I know I can. You know that I intend on becoming a lawyer one day, and I've already been studying on my own for the past couple of years to prepare…"

"But Cody," Tai softly interrupted, "you're...you're still in high school! Don't you have to have to be a full-fledged lawyer to represent someone in court?"

Cody faltered. "Uhm...technically yes, but—"

"I admire your spirit, but I don't think there's anything you can do," Tai said, trying to let him down gently.

"Yes, there is!" Cody insisted. "I can't be her lawyer, but I can still advise Menoa and whoever does represent her, if they're willing. I may not have passed the bar exam, but I have a good grasp on the fundamental principles of law that should apply broadly everywhere, even to the U.N. Plus, she's going to need someone on her side that understands both law and digimon issues, and how they may relate to each other. How many people do you know like that?"

"I think he might have a point there, Tai," Izzy chimed in. "I can see how someone with that skill set and perspective would be useful. My question is, how much do you know about international law?"

"Not a lot," admitted Cody, facing Izzy. "But I have from now until the trial to study up on it, and that's probably several months away at least. I'm confident I can help construct a reasonable defense for Menoa's release."

Tai looked sideways at Cody for a long moment with his hands on his hips. Finally, he dipped his head and chuckled softly. "Drukhovich did tell Menoa to get some 'wise counsel'. I can't think of anyone that fits that description better than you."

Cody's eyes lit up. "You mean I can help?"

"I don't mind, but it's not up to me," Tai reminded him. "That's for Menoa and her attorney to decide. But I'll try to make your case next time I see her."

"Thank you, Tai! You won't regret it, I promise!"

"No, thank you," Tai replied. "Menoa needs all the help she can get right now."

"Let us know if there's anything we can do, too," T.K. volunteered.

"I will. But I can't think of anything else any of you can do...except maybe for Izzy."

Izzy raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What do you need?"

Tai shuffled his feet a bit, as if embarrassed or reluctant to bring it up. "Before I left, Menoa asked me to check on her parents."

"They shouldn't be difficult to find. You could do that yourself; you don't need me for that."

"I was kind of hoping you could secure some more visitors passes for them…"

Izzy shook his head emphatically. "No. Absolutely not."

"But Izzy—"

"It's not that I'm unsympathetic, but my hands are tied. I did it for you once, but that's something I can't replicate a second time."

"Hey guys—" Cody began.

"Come on, Izzy!"

"Do you know what it took just to get you in?!" Izzy barked. "Do you have any idea?! I had to request a meeting with the Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry; in that meeting I threatened to move my entire company overseas to America unless he used his political clout to grant you access to Menoa's cell. I was bluffing of course—I wasn't at all prepared to relocate Izumi Industries, but if he called me on it, I would've had to do just that! I delivered an ultimatum to arguably the third most powerful man in the country for you! Don't ask me to do it again."

The gathered Digidestined sat stunned.

Matt let out a low whistle.

"Man, that's hardcore," Davis said to himself.

"Izzy, I—I had no idea," Tai finally said.

"Ahem!" Cody called. "If you'll all listen to me for one second, you'd know that you don't need extra passes. In virtually all prisons, inmates are allowed visits from family members. That even goes for the U.N. If anybody tries to give you trouble about that, I can look up the specific law that guarantees that right."

Tai did a double-take. "Wait, really?"

"Well, yes," Cody repeated, as though he felt he were stating something obvious. "As long as you can physically get them to the prison, they should have no trouble getting access to their daughter. But I can see why Izzy had to go to the lengths he did to get you permission. That definitely would have taken some high-level political manipulation."

"Terrific," Izzy remarked tersely before Tai could respond. "Now that that's settled, I think we should wrap this up. It's getting late, and I'm sure we all have things we need to do."

"Yeah, I should've left ten minutes ago," Joe agreed. "I need to get back and study for a written exam on how to diagnose and treat STDs."

A few members scrunched up their noses in disgust. "Not sure you needed to share that, Joe," Gomamon whispered cheerfully.

Patamon wriggled from his spot in T.K.'s lap so that he could turn to face his partner. "T.K., what are STDs?" he asked innocently.

T.K. scowled at Joe. "Thanks a lot, Joe."

Gomamon, more than happy to help, took a breath to answer. "It's when humans—mmmph!"

But Joe clamped a hand firmly over the Rookie's mouth before he could say any more. "Nevermind, Patamon, it's just some human stuff! Don't worry about it!"

"Ahem!" Tai called for attention. "I've said my piece. Last call for topics to discuss?" When Patamon started to raise a tiny paw, Tai amended, "Topics other than STDs?" Patamon lowered it again dejectedly. When no one else spoke up, he continued, "Then I hereby declare this meeting adjourned. Goodnight, everyone."

The Digidestined bid their farewells and began to disperse. "Wait!" Patamon protested as T.K. carried him away, "No one's explained what STDs are yet! I wanna know!"

Keyes, Oklahoma; October 5, 2010 – 6:10pm.

The closest Tai and Kari were able to get to Menoa's childhood home was a port at the public library of Keyes, Oklahoma, a tiny blip on the map about fifteen miles northeast of Boise City. Luckily, the library was practically deserted, so no one witnessed them materialize from one of the public computers tucked into cubicles in the back corner. Tai wasn't even sure it was still open except for the fact that the lights were on until they startled a middle-aged woman—who was no doubt the librarian—on their way out. She hurriedly bid them a good evening, and Tai gave her a quick wave in return and thanked her as they passed through the doors.

It was only a few minutes walk to the main highway that ran along the edge of the little town. They stood by the shoulder and looked out over the vast flat plains to the rolling hills at the edge of the mountains in the distance. Somewhere out there was the Bellucci family farm.

"What do we do now, Tai?", Kari asked.

"I guess what we normally do in these situations," he replied with a shrug, and stuck out his thumb toward the road.

Kari rolled her eyes. "Really? That's your plan?" she hissed out of the corner of her mouth.

"Relax. I've totally got this." Kari crossed her arms and glared at him, unconvinced.

"You folks aren't from around here, are ya?" came a gravelly chuckle from behind them. They looked and saw a man leaning casually against the hood of an old beat up Chevy pickup sitting in the gas station parking lot behind them. He was probably in his fifties, wore jeans and a plaid shirt with cowboy boots, and sported an impressively large red-brown mustache from his upper lip. The truck was probably considered an antique by now, its red paint eaten away in places and replaced by a layer of rust. The man took one last drag from the cigarette dangling out of the corner of his mouth and flicked the butt away before meandering over to them.

Kari instinctively retreated behind her brother a little, and Tai whispered in Japanese, "Let me do the talking. I'll handle this."

There was a rustle from Kari's backpack. "Is there a problem?" came a hushed voice from within.

"Easy, Gatomon", Kari muttered from the side of her mouth. "We're not in trouble yet."

When the stranger reached them, he said,"If you're trying to get a ride somewhere, you could be waiting a while. Might be half an hour before another car comes by."

"Oh," said Tai, with a good-natured laugh, "is that so?"

The man nodded. "Where're ya headed? There ain't much to look at for tourists 'round these parts."

Tai pulled out a paper from his pocket and handed it to the stranger. "Please, sir. Could you tell me how to get to this address?"

He held out the paper at arms length in his large hands and squinted at it, then frowned in confusion. "The Belluccis?" He looked at them suspiciously. "You got business with them?"

"Y-yes," Tai said slowly. "Of a sort."

The man regarded them curiously. "The Belluccis happen to be friends of mine. What sort of business do you have with them?"

"It's a...private matter. Suffice to say it has to do with their daughter."

The stranger's eyes grew in surprise. "Menoa? Is she in some kind of trouble?"

Tai nodded gravely. "I'm afraid so. We want to help her."

The stranger bobbed his head up and down, digesting the information. "That's a shame. She's a sweet girl." Looking back up, he considered them briefly, then seemed to make up his mind. "All right, son. I believe you. You haven't the look of a liar in you. The Bellucci farm ain't too far out of my way. I can give you a lift if you like."

"We would really appreciate that. Thank you, sir!"

The man extended a hand. "Roland," he declared.

Tai shook it. "Tai. And this is my sister, Kari."

"Nice to meet you," Kari said haltingly in English.

Roland tipped his hat. "Ma'am."

As they followed him to his truck, he continued, "Now, you could try to squeeze in the passenger seat together, or at least one of you will have to ride in the bed. I'm afraid it's a mite dirty, though."

Tai shared a glance with Kari, and he said, "We'll take the bed."

Roland shrugged. "As you wish."

He lowered the tailgate and Tai and Kari climbed into the truck bed, Kari gently setting her backpack down before sitting up against the back window next to her brother. A few moments later Roland fired up the engine and they began moving down a dusty dirt road into the wilderness.

Kari opened the top flap of her backpack so that Gatomon, who was out of view from the driver's seat, could poke her head out for some air. She rubbed the feline's head affectionately.

"Hey...Kari?" Tai began, reverting to their native tongue, and low enough that only their close proximity allowed her to hear him over the rumble of the diesel engine.

She looked at him questioningly.

"Sorry about making you come everywhere with me. I know you're not totally comfortable with this."

"It's all right, Onii-chan, I don't mind. In fact, in a way it's kind of nice getting to travel the world with you. We never get to hang out anymore."

Tai chuckled ruefully. "No, we don't." He patted her shoulder. "Thanks for coming with me. It feels a little like old times."

She smiled at him. "You're welcome."

He watched her a moment more, and stated, "I can tell there's still something bothering you, you know. What is it?"

Kari slumped forward, suddenly uncomfortable. She was afraid to speak up about the thoughts she'd been having.

"I just…" She sighed in exasperation and waved vaguely at their surroundings. "All this. Is it really necessary?"

"It is for me," he said.

Kari turned to face him. "I feel bad for Menoa, and I really do hope that things get better for her. But it doesn't change the fact that she tried to do something awful that affected thousands of people." She winced as she remembered being ambushed on her way home by one of the Eosmon, and how terrifying it had been. "She's in jail now, but maybe she belongs there...at least for the present. Perhaps she'll be set free in due time if things are allowed to run their course. There's no need to involve yourself any further. Maybe...you should just let it go?"

Kari didn't know how her brother would respond. She half expected him to get angry, or protest that this was his duty as leader of the Digidestined, or that she was wrong. But he didn't do any of that; he just got a faraway look in his eyes, shook his head resolutely, and said, "While I was in the Neverworld, one of the last things Agumon said to me was, 'Let's save them all.' For me, this includes Menoa, and I'm sure he would want me to do all I can for her. I can't let it go, Kari."

Kari creased her eyebrows in pity and concern. "All right, Tai. I understand, and I trust you. I just don't want you to get hurt."

Tai looked at her strangely, but whatever he might have said was quickly forgotten, for they had arrived. They went up a large gentle slope leading to a sort of plateau, where they passed under an arched gate made of wood and wrought iron that had written in big, bold letters, 'BELLUCCI FARM.' Their view shifted as the truck followed a curve in the path, and Tai felt a shiver rush up his spine as he experienced a profound sense of déjà vu.

It was all here: the colonial-style farmhouse, the large oak tree out front with the swing that Menoa loved so much as a child, and the elevated view of the surrounding mountains. It was even the same approximate time of day as in the vision of her memories. It was almost entirely unchanged, and the experience of actually being here now felt incredibly surreal to Tai.

A tall lanky man heading towards the barn paused when he heard the truck's approach. An aged cocker spaniel trailed at his feet, and he cradled a double-barreled shotgun casually in the crook of his arm. The silhouette of a woman appeared in the doorway of the house and asked, "Tom, who is it?"

The man squinted against the sunset and said with mild confusion, "It's Roland."

The truck parked, and Roland exited the vehicle. "Howdy, Tom," he greeted as he came near the farmer.

Tom inclined his head. "Hey, Roland. What can I do for you?"

Roland kicked at a mound of dirt. "Well, I'm sorry to bother ya this time a day without warnin', but you see, I ran into these two young'uns in town, and they say they got some kinda business wi' ya." He jerked his thumb in Tai and Kari's direction, who were dismounting from the back of the pickup.

Tom's eyebrows rose slightly, looking over the two strangers with mild curiosity. "Is that so?"

"D'ya know 'em?"

"Mmm, no…" mused Tom, "can't say as I do."

"Y'want me to run 'em back into town?"

Tai approached the two hesitantly, very aware of (and trying not to stare at) the long firearm that Tom still held to the side. Kari followed timidly behind him.

"Please, sir, I need to talk to you. It's about Menoa."

Tai instantly had Tom's full attention.

"What do you know of my daughter?" he demanded. The gun didn't move, but his whole body tensed up. Behind Tai, Kari's backpack twitched.

Tai spoke quickly. "I know she's in trouble, and you've got to be worried. We...I want to help her."

Tom hesitated. "Who are you?" he said at length.

Tai slowly held out his palm, in which lay his old cracked and lifeless digivice. "I'm guessing you know what this is?"

Shock washed over Tom's face. Not taking his eyes off the object in Tai's hand, he said, "No, Roland, you can leave 'em here. I need to talk to this one."

"Maria, set two more places at the table. We're going to have guests for supper tonight," Tom announced as he stepped past the threshold, hanging his woven straw hat on a hook in the wall and leaning the now-unloaded shotgun against the corner, much to Tai and Kari's secret relief.

"Oh? Is it Roland and his boy?" a female voice asked from the kitchen.

Tom held the screen door open for Tai and Kari to enter. They paused briefly when they noticed the lack of a genkan at the entrance and wondered what they should do with their shoes.

"No," answered Tom. "They're strangers. They claim to know something about Menoa."

Maria froze; the stack of plates in her hands trembled slightly.

"Oh." She turned and smiled at them from the other end of the hallway. "Well, I hope they've brought big appetites!"

Then the content of the brief exchange that had just transpired fully registered to Tai. "W-wait, that isn't necessary!" he blurted. "Mr. Bellucci, we're sorry to have interrupted you during your supper. Please don't trouble yourselves on our account…"

But Mr. Bellucci silenced him with an upraised hand. "Nonsense. Please, eat with us. I insist."

"What's going on?" Kari whispered to Tai in Japanese.

"We're being invited to dinner."

"But we just had breakfast…" Kari protested in mild alarm.

"I don't think it'd do to explain the time difference for us right now," he replied.

Tom looked back and forth at the two of them. "Is everything all right?"

"Y-yes, Tai answered with a slight bow. "Thank you for sharing your food with us."

Tom nodded. "Right this way."

Tai hadn't given any thought as to what kind of people Menoa's parents were, so it really should not have surprised him when he found out. Tom and Maria Bellucci were nothing like what he might have imagined had he actually tried, and yet their family resemblance was immediately apparent and undeniable. Tom was roughly four inches above Tai's own height, though he was slimmer; his skin was tanned and weather-beaten from decades spent working in the sun and soil, having the appearance of old leather. A thick silver mustache matched his short silver hair and bushy, wizard-like eyebrows. He had the exact look and curmudgeonly demeanor you would expect of an old farmer, but there was the same spark of fire and intelligence that burned in the cerulean eyes which father and daughter both shared.

However, the bulk of Menoa's physical traits were clearly inherited from her mother. Maria was beautiful and gracious, and provided an excellent indication of what Menoa might look like in twenty-five years time. The only signs of aging were the tinges of grey in her auburn hair and the wrinkles around her eyes, which notably held none of the melancholy that was ever-present in her daughter's.

Tom was the descendant of Italian immigrants to Manhattan in the late 1800's who, over time, moved to the Midwest to grow crops and raise cattle. Maria's ancestry was of Celto-Germanic origin—particularly Welsh—and her grandparents came to America after the first World War. Tom and Maria were high school sweethearts, married soon after Maria's graduation, and had lived in the house Tom built for them for almost thirty years.

Mr. Bellucci led Tai and Kari to a rustic dining room where Maria had arranged the table with four sets of plates and silverware surrounding dishes of ham, potatoes, green beans, cornbread, baked asparagus, and a large pitcher of iced tea.

"And there's an apple pie in the oven for later," Mrs. Bellucci said.

Mr. Bellucci pulled out a chair and gestured to Kari. "Please, sit."

Kari set her backpack down beside it and sat. "Ariga—uh, thank you."

Mr. Bellucci smiled gently. "Douitashimashite."

At their looks of surprise, Mr. Bellucci said with a twinkle in his eye, "I may be an old farmer, but I am not just an old farmer. I know a little Japanese. In fact, I visited your country once."

Tai nodded in understanding. "In 1995, the Highton View Terrace bombing."

Kari gave her brother a double-take. "Wha? They were there that night?"

Tai gave her a look that said they'd talk about it later, and Kari sat back in a daze as her mind filled in several gaps.

"How did you know that?" asked Tom as Maria served them all portions of food.

"Menoa told me the last time I talked to her. That's the night that connects us. That was the night she became a Digidestined."

"Digidestined," Tom repeated with deliberate slowness, tasting the word as if for the first time. "I expect you have much to tell us, and I and my wife will have many questions to ask you." Indeed Mrs. Bellucci appeared ready to burst trying to refrain from voicing the myriad questions she had about their daughter. "But let us first wait until after we have eaten. No doubt this conversation would kill any desire for food if it came first, and I would not have all of Mrs. Bellucci's fine cooking go to waste."

With that, the meal commenced. It was awkward sitting down in a stranger's house, silently partaking in their supper while they waited to have what was sure to be an uncomfortable conversation about their absent daughter and the crimes she committed. Tai and Kari ate so as to not insult their hosts, even though neither of them were very hungry. Tai had to admit that the unfamiliar food was delicious—he'd always had a particular fondness for American cuisine. The Belluccis also seemed to be affected by the unusual situation, though they betrayed no outward indication of it; but except for inquiries of "Do you want some more tea?", or "Would you please pass the pepper?" and the like, no one spoke a word during the entire affair. At last, the plates were emptied and gathered to the sink, and Tai accepted a hearty slice of apple pie and a scoop of vanilla ice cream from Mrs. Bellucci (despite the protests of his overfull stomach). Maria also brought round a pot of coffee, which Tai and Kari politely refused, and which Tom took black save for a single lump of sugar. Tom sat back in his chair, took out tobacco and pipe, and lit it with a match. A sweet musky aroma wafted into the air.

"Now, then," he said with a sigh after a few preliminary puffs, "I suppose we should begin with proper introductions. I am Tom Bellucci, as I assume you know, and this is my wife, Maria."

Tai nodded. "My name is Tai Kamiya, and this is my sister, Kari."

"Is she...like you?" Tom asked.

"Yes," Tai confirmed, "but she still has her partner. In fact…"

With a look of horror, Kari realized she had quite forgotten about Gatomon in her backpack. She quickly bent down and opened the top flap of her backpack, where Gatomon's large eyes scowled at her.

"It's about time!" she grumbled as Kari lifted her into her lap. "I thought you'd never let the cat out of the bag!"

Tom and Maria's eyes widened. "Tom! They have a creature just like Menoa's Morphomon! A—A digimon!" Maria gasped.

The Bellucci's dog stood from where it lay in the corner and began barking loudly at Gatomon and jumping up and down."

"Come and try it, fleabag! You'll regret it!" Gatomon taunted, a paw extended and ready to swipe should the dog dare to approach.

"Gatomon, no!" Kari scolded, holding her tightly to her chest.

Maria likewise scooped up and restrained the cocker spaniel. "Shh, settle down, Jessie!"

"I'm so sorry," Kari apologized, "I will wait outside with Gatomon while you and Tai talk…"

"It's quite all right, dear," Maria reassured her, "and please stay. As long as I hold her still, she won't cause any trouble." The dog did indeed appear to be calming at Mrs. Bellucci's touch.

Kari sat back down hesitantly. "Well, if you're sure…"

Tom nodded, then returned his gaze to Tai. "Kamiya-san, do you know where my daughter is right now?"

"Yes, sir."

"Is she safe?" Maria asked.

Tai hesitated, wanting to choose his words carefully. "Yes. For the moment, at least. But she is lonely, and afraid."

Mr. Bellucci's stare was piercing. "Can you tell us what she has become involved in?"

Tai grimaced. "Please, could you tell me what you know first? The answer to your question is...complicated, and your answer will help me know where to begin."

"Not very much, unfortunately," Tom answered, frowning. "She called us six weeks ago, saying that she had been taken into custody by the FBI."

"She apologized to us, saying that she 'made some mistakes' and would be going away for a while," added Maria miserably. "She sounded so sad."

Mr. Bellucci released another puff of smoke toward the ceiling. "We never heard from her after that," he said. "I've tried to pry answers from the FBI, but keep getting stonewalled. It seems Uncle Sam doesn't want to tell me why my little girl is behind bars. I'm hoping you can do better."

"Well," Tai started slowly, "firstly, she's no longer under the watch of the FBI. She's being held in a U.N. detention facility in the Netherlands…" Tai took a deep breath, questioning the wisdom of what he was about to say. "...and I'm afraid I'm the one responsible for putting her there."

Maria turned white as a sheet. Tom's teeth clamped down hard on his pipe stem. "Explain yourself. Now."

So Tai recounted in brief the story of how she had come into his life as a Digimon researcher from New York to ask for his help in recovering the stolen consciousnesses of Digidestined from a mysterious new digimon; about how he first heard the concept of the dissolving bonds of Digidestined and partner at adulthood, which he also began to experience firsthand; how they discovered through the course of their investigation that Menoa was secretly behind it all, attempting to 'save' the Digidestined of the world from having to say goodbye to their partners by staying children forever in a world she and Eosmon created; and he told them of how he and Agumon were instrumental in stopping her and returning all the stolen consciousnesses to their bodies.

"...and then, Agent Yamada took her into custody," Tai concluded at the end of his tale.

Maria reached over to a shelf by the wall next to her to grab a tissue and blew her nose. "Oh, my poor girl…" she lamented to herself.

Tom sat still and silent for a long time, his head bowed to his chest and eyes shut. If Tai had not known better, his appearance would almost suggest he had fallen asleep, but he could tell Menoa's father was in deep thought, concentrating and absorbing all the information Tai had given him. At last he raised his head and fixed his steely gaze upon Tai.

"Thank you, Kamiya-san, for enlightening us. And for preventing our daughter from permanently harming anyone, even—as I understand it—at great personal cost to yourself. You are a good man, Tai Kamiya, and we are in your debt." Then, to his and Kari's astonishment, he rose from his chair and bowed to him in Japanese fashion as a sign of respect. "Doumo arigatou."

Tai suddenly felt embarrassed at being treated so deferentially. "Please, you don't have to do that. Why are you thanking me when I am responsible for Menoa's imprisonment?"

"You prevented her from doing something she would have later regretted," Tom replied. "In truth, I believe I owe you an apology. The trouble my daughter has given you is a result of our failure as parents. We...didn't understand her bond with Morphomon as a child, or how devastating her loss would be. Menoa was inconsolable after Morphomon's disappearance; we tried to help her as best we could, but we didn't know how to let her cope."

"She stopped eating, and wouldn't speak to us or leave her room for days," Maria added morosely. "We thought maybe providing her with a new friend would help take her mind off it, so one day Tom brought Jessie home for Menoa." She looked down at the small dog in her arms. "But she didn't want anything to do with her. All she wanted was Morphomon back."

Gatomon was incensed. "You mean you thought you could replace her partner with that ball of fluff? A-a-a pet?! Do you think that is all we are?"

"Gatomon! Calm yourself," Kari admonished again, horrified at her partner's rudeness. "They don't understand. They were just trying to help. Apologize, now."

"There is no need," said Tom with a wave of his hand. "Your indignation is well-deserved, er...Gatomon. Nothing we did could help our girl through her pain; and three months later she was gone, off to pursue her dream of researching the 'Digital World' she so often spoke of, though I now guess from that moment onward her goal had secretly shifted to finding a way to bring her partner back."

"And to prevent it from happening to anyone else," Tai confirmed. "And she succeeded, in a way. Eosmon was clearly patterned off of Morphomon, maybe as a theoretical evolution that Menoa never got to see. And she did find a way to stop other Digidestined and their partners from parting. But the cost was too high."

"Indeed," Tom nodded, and took another puff of his pipe. "And now she is imprisoned in a U.N. facility."

"Correct," Tai affirmed.

Tom regarded him thoughtfully for a moment. "You and your sister have gone to a lot of trouble to make your way here to tell us this, and when you first approached me you said you wanted to help her. Why?"

Tai fumbled for the words to express his motive. Each time he was asked this, he found it difficult to answer. "Because…" he answered at length, "when I looked at her as she spoke to me about Morphomon, I didn't see an evil person deserving of punishment; I didn't see the madness and megalomania that later overtook her in the Neverworld. I just saw pain. Pain that she had been suffering with for years, pain that I now understand intensely well. She made a mistake out of loneliness, that's all. I want to help her heal, and she can't do that languishing in a prison cell. She should be with other Digidestined. And as the leader of the Digidestined, I suppose I feel a certain level of responsibility for her as well."

Tom nodded along. "And what do you intend to do now?"

"I'm still working that out, to be honest," Tai replied. "But I have a friend who might be able to assist with her legal defense. He's young, but he's really smart. We're going to do our best to get her released as soon as possible."

"Thank you for that," said Tom. "If there's anything that we can do to assist you, let us know."

"Of course."

"Mr. Kamiya," Maria broke in timidly, "the next time you see her, could you deliver a message from us?"

A grin spread across Tai's face. "I can't make any promises, but I may be able to do better than that."

United Nations Detention Unit – The Hague, Netherlands.

October 19th, 2010 – 9:45am

Tai once again found himself traversing the clinical white walls of Scheveningen Prison, but this time he was not alone. Cody and Mr. and Mrs. Bellucci were following a little behind him as he led the way. That night on the Bellucci farm Tai had explained to them how Digidestined could use digital gates to bypass great distances in the Real World and reach anywhere on Earth very quickly, as long as there was a computer network near their destination. Tom and Maria were astounded at that, and were very grateful for his invitation to take them to their daughter via that method at a later date.

When he next visited Menoa, he told her about Cody's offer to assist with her legal defense. She'd shrugged and answered that she was open to any help she could get, but that she had just acquired the services of an attorney, and it would be up to him whether or not Cody's assistance would be welcome. Today was to be the day of Menoa's first meeting with her lawyer to discuss how they should proceed at the trial, so Tai orchestrated for them all to be here now.

They rounded a corner, and as they came to the end of the hall Tai noticed Groeneveld and Klaasen had returned to their posts. Groeneveld frowned when he saw the approaching entourage. "Don't think you can take advantage of your tenuous privilege to host a party for all your friends in Bellucci's cell, Kamiya. Your rights don't extend that far. The others will have to return to the waiting area."

Tai shook his head. "It's not like that—" he began, but cut out as Mr. Bellucci stepped forward.

"We are Menoa's parents," he declared, indicating himself and Maria, "and we insist you let us see our daughter."

Groeneveld hesitated. "I'll need to see some identification for proof."

"Very well." Tom dug out his wallet for his ID and Maria did the same from her purse. Groeneveld took them and looked them over before handing them to Klaasen. Then his gaze fell to Cody. "And what are you supposed to be, her kid brother? Our records indicate that Miss Bellucci has no siblings."

"I am part of her defense counsel," Cody announced with full confidence.

Groeneveld's eyebrows rose in disbelief, and Klaasen had to bite down an involuntary snicker. "Just how old are you, son?" Groeneveld asked suspiciously. "Aren't you a bit young to be a lawyer?"

"Your question is irrelevant," Cody replied, his ears turning slightly red. "My apparent age has no bearing on my ability to represent Miss Bellucci. Am I right in understanding you are refusing my client access to legal representation?"

Tai was getting nervous. Cody was trying to bluster his way in without outright lying, and doubted it would be enough to sway Groeneveld from his "by-the-book" mentality.

"It's all right, gentlemen!" came a voice from down the hall. "He's with me."

They all turned and saw a tall man approaching at a brisk pace. He wore an expensive charcoal-grey three-piece suit with brown leather shoes and a red tie, holding a briefcase in his left hand. "Brian Talbot, attorney at law," he introduced, extending his hand. "I'm here to represent Miss Bellucci."

Neither guard made a move to shake the proffered hand. "ID?" Groeneveld prompted in his usual no-nonsense manner.

"Oh, yes. Of course," replied Brian, pulling his credentials out of his breast pocket.

"Is the kid really with you?" asked Klaasen, indicating Cody.

Brian turned back to Cody, who looked up at him anxiously, as though he was searching for something in the boy's face. "Yes. Yes, the kid is with me, as I have already stated. Will that be a problem?" Brian asked, addressing the guards again.

Klaasen looked uncertainly at Groeneveld, who seemed momentarily dumbfounded. "No, not at all," muttered Groeneveld. "Kamiya and the parents get thirty minutes. You, of course, have unrestricted access to your client, Mr. Talbot."

"Excellent," Brian said with a grin.

Groeneveld pressed the button on the wall to unlock the door, which Klaasen then opened and ushered them quickly through. Once again Tai was plunged into darkness as the door shut, and stood waiting for his eyes to adjust.

"Who is—Mom? Dad?" came Menoa's voice from the back of the cell, then Tai felt a rush of air as Menoa flew past him and into her parents' arms. "What are you doing here? How did you get here?"

"It was Tai and his friend Cody," Maria replied. "They took us here through a shortcut in the Digital World."

"You...you've been to the Digital World?" Menoa whispered in awe. "What was it like?"

"It was amazing, sweetheart. Everything was so beautiful. We got to ride on Cody's digimon, who can turn into a dinosaur! I wish you could have seen it."

"Maybe she can one day," said Tai. "Once she's free." Menoa beamed at him.

Tom took his daughter's face in his hands and looked at her carefully. "How are you holding up? Are they feeding you all right?"

"Yeah, Dad. I'm okay."

"We've been so worried about you."

"I know. I'm so sorry."

While the family reunion was taking place, Brian and Cody were sizing each other up. The well-dressed man was close to six-and-a-half feet tall and still seemed fairly young—perhaps not even thirty—his brown hair was neatly swept to the side, and his chin was clean-shaven. He looked with vibrant blue eyes down at the youthful boy before him. "Thank you for sticking up for me in front of the guards," said Cody, bowing politely. "But...why did you? You had no obligation to do so, and most people probably would have viewed me as a liability and told me to get lost."

"I confess it's in large part due to curiosity," the lawyer replied. "When Miss Bellucci mentioned you wanted to assist with her case when we last spoke over the phone, I was intrigued to say the least. Plus, she asked that I give you a chance, so I am giving you one in accordance with her wishes. And a good attorney is never too proud to accept help, no matter from where it comes. I was once an aspiring lawyer myself, after all, and I know from experience just how difficult it is to get started. So consider this a job interview. But what about you, Cody? Why do you want to represent Miss Bellucci?"

"Because she doesn't deserve to be imprisoned. Though what she tried to do was horrible, her motivation was altruistic rather than selfish or malicious, and ultimately resulted in no permanent harm. Therefore, nothing that she did is deserving of punishment," Cody reasoned.

Brian nodded thoughtfully. "And how would you go about her defense?"

"I would focus on three things: first, that since no law exists criminalizing the specific acts she did, she cannot be held guilty of a crime and the entire trial should be dismissed out of hand; second, that since all of the Digidestined whose consciousnesses were taken to the Neverworld were returned to them, no one was truly harmed by her actions in the end—no harm done, then no victim, and if no victim, then no crime; third, that if punitive action were to be taken at all, since everyone impacted by these events are Digidestined, then it should be decided by the International Digidestined Coalition, and not the United Nations."

Brian pursed his lips as he considered Cody's argument. "Hmm. I don't think you'll get very far with your first point, since the trial is going to take place regardless. If that tactic was going to work, there wouldn't be a need for it; The U.N. will not simply acknowledge they don't have the right to try her in the middle of doing so."

"Maybe not," Cody argued, "but I think it still bears pointing out. This could largely be for show, proceeding from the impulse that they should take some sort of action in response to this event which affected so many countries. That is to say, I believe this trial to be politically motivated more than from any sense of justice. Publicly stating on record that the qualifications for a trial have not been met may be enough to cause public opinion to sway in our favor, and make the court's resolve in pursuing punitive measures to weaken."

"Your second argument is sound," said Brian, moving on. "That was going to be my focus as well. A victimless crime is no crime at all—or at least should not be. But your final point is intriguing: that her punishment should land outside of the U.N's jurisdiction, and instead fall to your fellow Digidestined. The flaw in that plan is it would require the U.N. to recognize your 'Digidestined Coalition' as its own distinct and independent political entity, which would take some doing. Still…" he trailed off. "There's an idea worth exploring."

"It's certainly a gamble," Cody admitted, "but one that I believe is worth taking. We've nothing to lose by trying, and potentially a lot to gain."

"All right," said Brian, "One final question: why should I bring you on as part of this Defense Counsel? What unique skills do you bring to the table?"

"First, I can provide a fresh perspective. Two heads are better than one, and I may be able to spot flaws in your argument before you bring them to court, or to catch them in our opponent's. Second, while your expertise is in law, as a Digidestined I have extensive knowledge about digimon and the Digital World and all matters pertaining to them, which will be a major component of this trial. I will be able to confirm or debunk statements made by the prosecution regarding them that you may not. This alone could prove invaluable to you. And it is true that you could easily bring in another attorney for the first matter, and Tai or another Digidestined could advise you on the second just as well as I could; but another attorney would not have the knowledge of the Digital World that I do, and another Digidestined would not understand matters of law. But I can. I am the bridge that connects these two worlds: I can see how digital matters can affect law and vice-versa in ways that no one else can. I intend to become the first Digidestined lawyer, and I can bring a unique skill-set to this case that I think you will need."

Brian gave a bark of laughter and clapped his hands together happily. "How amusing. You've got spirit, kid. If you keep at it like this, I'm sure you'll make a fine lawyer one day. But let's get something straight before we go any further: I'm the hired professional, you shall be a secondary advisor. I call the shots, and you work for me. You don't do anything without my permission."

Cody nodded. "Of course."

Brian smiled. "Well then, I look forward to working with you, Mr. Hida."

"Hold on one moment," Cody called. "What makes you worthy of representing Miss Bellucci? If we're going to work together, I'd like to know your qualifications."

Brian chuckled. "Very well. I received my J.D. from Yale in '02, and my M.S.L. in '04 while simultaneously interning at the U.N.'s Office of Legal Affairs; in the last six years I've specialized in representing defendants of Human Rights cases for the International Criminal Court, such as Miss Bellucci here, and have won thirty-six of those cases; I am fluent in English, French and Russian, and…" he paused for dramatic effect. "...I have sparred with the opposition for this case before."

"You mean Drukhovich?" Cody prompted.

"Yes," Brian confirmed. "I've gone up against her several times in the past. I know how she thinks."

"How many of those cases have you won against her?"

Brian hesitated. "About half," he confessed. "She is a tough, ruthless opponent, and is very good at what she does. Make no mistake: we will have our work cut out for us, Cody. But I am the best person to have on your side going up against her."

Cody processed the information, and his mouth set in a grim line of determination. A dangerous glint flashed in his emerald eyes, accepting the challenge. "Well then, let's get to work."

Over the coming weeks and months, the Digidestined found themselves all to be very busy. They ran the first several training seminars for Digidestined around the world, and received great results. Once or twice a month Izzy would post a sign-up sheet with a limited number of slots available to INDICON; they always filled up in minutes, but those lucky enough to secure a spot would have the chance to be personally mentored by some of the original Digidestined at a specified time and place in the Digital World. When these meetings occurred, Cody had the bright idea of filming them and uploading the video later in an effort to help the most people, so that even if someone never got to attend one personally, they could still benefit from watching previous sessions.

In October, Izumi Industries launched its flagship smartphone to wild success, with sales outperforming the most optimistic predictions and cementing Izzy as one of the youngest self-made billionaires in the world.

The air grew cool as the last dying embers of Summer faded into Autumn, and in the quiet moments of their lives, the greater an unspoken question loomed in the minds of the Digidestined: who would be the next to say farewell to their digimon forever? They began to dread picking up their phones to answer a call or text from a friend, fearing to find out that so-and-so's bond was breaking down, or worse, to glance at the screen and discover their own ring of light glimmering ominously at them. As December came, they found their answer; however, the next Digidestined to be unbound was not from among their core group, but rather Davis's sister, Jun. She had been partnered with a Penguinmon since 2003, but as the oldest known Digidestined at twenty-five years of age, Jun's partnership with her digimon finally came to an end. This rattled Davis, and he kept a close eye on her for a while afterward.

At the turn of the New Year, Kari left her parents' home and moved into an apartment near her university with Noriko as a roommate; Noriko convinced her boss to hire Davis as an apprentice cook at the cafe, and so they began to spend more time together as co-workers, and as friends. Matt ultimately decided to join the Air Self-Defense Force, where he was put on the fast-track to become an officer. Around the same time, Yolei decided that she and Hawkmon would stay in Barcelona for another semester, which seemed to disappoint Ken.

As for Tai, he made many more visits to Menoa's cell, sometimes to provide her with news of the outside world, or to check if there were any updates about her case, but often there was no greater purpose than simply to keep her company. At her request he would tell her stories of his exploits in the Digital World when he was younger, which she listened to with rapt attention and wonder; even when he recounted the most perilous tales of their narrowest escapes, she never doubted a word of it, completely trusting that he was telling the truth. She was grateful to hear what it was like to be what was in her eyes a real Digidestined, a hero that had saved two worlds, and not a mere ordinary human who had a digimon partner. In return, she became a much-needed balm for the raw wound that Agumon's absence left on his heart. She understood the depth of his loss on a level that went beyond words, and he greatly appreciated the gift of her empathy. Over the many conversations they shared, Tai and Menoa developed quite a close friendship. But at long last, the day of her trial drew near...

Shinjuku, Tokyo; April 5, 2011 – 8:10am.

Tai jogged along the pedestrian trail that ran parallel with the road on his way to Waseda University, where he was to fill out the final paperwork for his upcoming graduation on Friday. He was in an unusually good mood this morning; Spring had come again, bringing new life and a sense of optimism with it. Tai breathed deep of the clear sweet air that cloudless day under the shade of the Sakura trees, which were in full bloom. His completed thesis had recently been accepted, and he would possess his bachelor's degree in Political Science and Economics by the end of the week. He still did not have a job lined up as of yet, but it was hard to be stressed about that when the end of his long educational road was in sight and the whole world seemed to be opening up with possibilities. Menoa's trial was also set to commence the following week, which filled him with anxious anticipation and excitement. Cody, he knew, had been working closely with Menoa's attorney to construct the best possible defense for her, and he felt confident in their ability to achieve a favorable outcome.

Tai gazed up at the canopy of cherry blossoms passing overhead. For the first time in several months, he found he wasn't dreading what the future would bring; he didn't know what lay ahead, but he felt that big changes were on the horizon, and at least for today, that was something he was looking forward to.

The wind picked up, sweeping thousands of pink petals whirling through the sky before they cascaded in waves around him, showering him in their pleasant fragrance. Tai smiled slightly and picked up his pace with a sudden burst of energy. There was something like an electric tingle in his fingertips and a conviction that somehow, something momentous was about to happen.

Suddenly, his field of view was bursting with color as the wind upset a swarm of butterflies that had been among the nearby flora. All at once he was surrounded by their vivid hues, flitting around him in a circle so thick that he had to stop and wait for several seconds for it to pass. It was mesmerizing. The beautiful tornado of insects swirled about him playfully, but as it began to dissipate Tai caught a distinctive flash of yellow out of the corner of his eye. He whipped his head around to try to get another glimpse of the thing through the thinning kaleidoscope of butterflies. It vanished around the corner into an adjacent alley on the other side of the road before he could be sure, but what he did see caused his heart to seize in his chest. No way. That almost looked like…

He didn't dare finish the thought.

Then his heart resumed its function at more than double its previous speed, pounding thunderously at the wild, inconceivable notion firing off in his brain like lightning, and he leaped over the fence, desperate to be sure. That's impossible, he reasoned to himself, taking no notice as he came within a hair's breadth of getting crushed by a passing truck in his mad dash across the street. It was just a trick of the light and your own wishful imagination. There's absolutely no chance that you could have seen—"

He came to an abrupt halt at the mouth of the alleyway, where the object of his fascination stood at the far end a hundred feet ahead. Tai's breath caught in his throat and his limbs were paralyzed for half a second in shock before he exploded again into a full sprint, and a single name was torn from his lips: "Agumon!"

A/N: All right, that was evil to leave it hanging there, I know. And I'm not sorry at all. ;) And yes, that was an extension of the very last scene of LEK. This was a strange and tricky chapter to write, and grew quite a bit beyond my initial plans. In fact, the main point I wanted to accomplish here went by fairly quickly, whereas a relatively minor idea expanded a lot in the writing. Not sure if that's a good thing or not, I'll let you be the judge of that. This chapter ended up mostly being a fun exercise in worldbuilding for me, introducing and fleshing out Menoa's family. Hopefully you enjoyed it and I promise it's not completely pointless, lol.

I think the only Digimon episode referenced in this chapter is another mention of the Highton View Terrace incident from Digimon: the Movie. That's kind of unusual.

Next time on Digimon Adventure: Continuing Evolution-Chapter 15. Assembly.