AN: Hey everyone, and Happy Thanksgiving to everyone from America. Hope you have a good time with the people you love. Anyways, hope you're having a good November. It's been a while, but I've been kind of busy.

Now, responses.

To G3r1k: We'll see about that rabbit, bag, and whether it has yet escaped said bag. And Renamon is great. Watching her and Rika actually begin to be friends over the course of the show is great.

To Smartalec121: Now that you mention it, I can definitely see how she seems like Mimi. But like you said it's fun, and I hope different enough from how people usually portray her to be unique. As for your assessment of Takato, I agree. He's definitely a Tamer in that he chose and wished to create Guilmon, but I always felt like there was more to it than the others, in a way. The dream about Rika, for one, and that Guilmon's creation is so unique. Fifty fifty, I guess, and definitely more like the Digidestined than the other Tamers were. Except maybe Henry, given the old Digidestined were chosen after having an interaction with Digimon, and being the son of someone who created the Digimon kind of falls under that category as well.

Well, enjoy and I'll see you guys next time!

Episode 14: Dorugamon's Fight: Not the Smallest!

May and I sat with our Digimon in the warehouse, having just explained everything that had happened with Suze to my incredibly grumpy Digimon partner. "So," he said as we finished, eyes staring past us, "you are telling me there is a delicious rabbit sized Digimon around that I haven't promised to not Load?"

"That can't be what he's getting from all this," Dorimon said, casting a concerned glance at me and May.

"Knowing him, I'm surprised he heard anything about Lopmon other than the words 'rookie' and 'Digimon,'" May replied, and they both began to laugh at my partner.

He snorted angrily, and twin trails of smoke rose from his nostrils. "And I am surprised you were able to understand even that much, you stupid weakling!" He snarled at her, teeth bared and more smoke rising. I think if she could have made smoke come out of her nose and mouth, she would have. Taking on the most condescending voice I'd heard in a long time, he continued, "Digimon attract Digimon, so obviously if she's around I'll have more prey to Load, and stronger to become."

"Okay, maybe we stop this conversation before you two kill each other?" Dorimon asked, glancing up from a bag of licorice May had given her. "May, I love making fun of Jerkmon, but not if you're going to let him get to you, too." She turned and grinned evilly at BlackGuilmon. "He's not worth it." He snapped his jaws at her, infuriated by the insinuation he wasn't worth something. Even if he didn't really know what that something was.

May took a deep breath. "Thanks, Dorimon," she said, reaching over and scratching the fuzzball appreciatively behind the ears.

"May, stop making me be the responsible one," Dorimon demanded after the scratches stopped. "It ruins our whole thing! I'm crazy and irresponsible, and you keep me from being crazy and irresponsible!"

"Truly, America's next Buddy Cop movie," I remarked. I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms. "But we do have other things to focus on, you know. Like what are we going to do about Davis?"

"We tell him nothing," BlackGuilmon was quick to reply. "He would interfere, as surely as your families would."

"I hate to agree with Jerkmon," Dorimon began, jumping off of the couch to stand on top of BlackGuilmon's back, "but it would hurt Suzie. The government would probably want to get Lopmon and her old, weird Digivice."

"Davis is a company man," May agreed. "He may be our friend now, but..."

"He's an agent first," Dorimon finished. BlackGuilmon growled and shook his back. Dorimon yelped and tumbled to the ground, where she began to struggle like a tipped over tortoise. "Ach! May, I'm turtling!"

"It wouldn't even be fun to Load you like this," BlackGuilmon remarked after a moment of glaring down at her. He scoffed and turned away to find us staring at him. "What?"

May laughed in fake surprise. "Mocking instead of a threat? He can learn!"

"And we're back," I grumbled before reaching down to flip Dorimon back to her feet.

She rolled her eyes and looked up to me apologetically. "And I say you're the Dummy."

"Hey!" May and BlackGuilmon snapped at us before tossing one another a glare.

"Okay, so we don't tell Davis. He'll find out eventually, though," I pointed out. BlackGuilmon kept glaring at her, but May turned to me. "What do we do then?"

"Well, if it comes to that..." May trailed off and set her gaze against mine, brow furrowed. "I won't let them have her."

I studied her for a second before leaning back. "I... I wouldn't trade Suze for my parents," I told her. I shook my head. "You know that, May. I wouldn't trade any of my family. Not even to save them."

"Then you'll go down in a blaze of glory with us!" Dorimon shouted excitedly. "The three of us versus the world!"

BlackGuilmon turned his snout towards her. "Ahem..."

"Wha? Do I have to count you, too?" she asked, grumbling.

I looked at him in surprise. "You'd... help?"

"Of course," he said, turning towards me with a stoic, supportive look on his face. It quickly morphed into a predatory grin that gave me the creeps. "And that would mean I could remove Huckmon from the 'No-Load List.'"

"Always looking on the bright side," Dorimon muttered, letting loose a heavy sigh.

"Of course," BlackGuilmon replied, not hearing her sarcasm at all. "I always think about Loading."

"You have a list?" May asked dryly.

"Yeah, I made him make it," I explained, rubbing my forehead. "Unfortunately, let's call it an improvement."

X. X. X

May wasn't exactly feeling calm. It was Friday, which meant she'd be able to keep a closer eye on her aunt, and she wasn't sure if that made her feel better or worse. Sure, she could keep an eye on Suzie and she still had no idea if her aunt was going to spill the secrets to Henry and her parents, but it felt like Suzie was beginning to find it funny, smirking at May and moving towards Henry or her parents before veering in the other direction. It was way too stressful constantly wondering if it was all going to come crashing down. So, she was the closest she'd gotten to relieved in days when Suzie had asked her to drive her to the mall. It had been more than she'd been prepared for, especially when marched into the Disney Store and loudly proclaimed she was a princess.

"I am so tired," May muttered when she finally stumbled into her car at six thirty, the sun starting to dip below the horizon. They were parked far off, with only a few cars nearby, that way Dorimon could run around the car without being seen, barking at people through the cracked windows and making funny faces at kids, then looking like a dog when their parents looked on the rare moments when families walked by. Good fun for her.

"Food!" the Digimon shouted when the doors shut.

"Ugh..." May groaned as she held out the bag full of burger and fries for her Digimon to tear through. She looked over at her perfectly happy aunt. "Did you have to sign autographs for three hours?!"

"My adoring public demands it," Suzie supplied happily. "It's a curse I will happily bear."

"I'm so excited to go home," May grumbled, letting her forehead fall to the wheel. She took another deep breath, then put the car in reverse and pulled backwards from her spot. She drove in silence for a while, ignoring the banter her aunt, Lopmon, and Dorimon had going on as she checked her mirrors to change lanes. She frowned. Is that..? She got into the lane and sped past the car that had been in front of her, changing lanes to get back into the one she'd been in earlier. Lo and behold, the car she'd been eyeing followed her closely.

"Are you okay?" Suzie finally asked.

"Shush," May dismissed, getting over again.

Suzie watched her turn and checked her phone. "Uh... the house isn't that way."

"Shush!" May hissed again, keeping an eye on the other car as she drove towards her destination. "Dorimon, be ready to go."

Dorimon looked over from where she'd been eating, keeping herself between Lopmon and her food. The rabbit reached around and stole a fry as Dorimon nodded. "We're being followed," May stated.

Suzie's eyes widened. "We're what?"

May pulled into a spot at the park where BlackGuilmon had once taken up residence and parked the car. "Stay here," she said as she reached past Suzie and into the glove compartment, pulling out –

"Are those night vision goggles!?" Lopmon shouted in surprise.

"Just stay here!" May ordered. She turned off the car and shoved the door open, putting on the goggles as she and Dorimon sprinted away. Dorimon leaped into the air as the Digivice in May's hand began to glow, creating a Digital egg around the tiny Digimon. A moment later, she burst forth as Dorumon and the two sprinted into the treeline.

"What is going on?" May asked after a moment in the dark of the car. She moved to get out and follow, only for Lopmon to stop her.

"Look, Suzie!" the Digimon hissed, pointing out of the car at another car. Someone had jumped out of it, running with a small, orange dinosaur rushing after him. She looked up at her partner. "What should we do?"

"We trust her, for now," she said after a moment's thought. Suzie pulled up her D-Power and stared at the screen. "But... we can still keep an eye on them, right?"

Lopmon grinned up at her. "It's been too long!" she shouted, excited at the prospect of what came next.

X X X

May hurried as quickly as she dared through the trap laden trees and rocks, hoping she wouldn't accidentally trip one of her own traps. Still, she had to lead him through the most dense area of traps. "Oh, crap!" she hissed, earning a confused look from her Digimon. "We should have called Taj!"

"... You look silly in those goggles," Dorumon stated, eyes reflective in the darkness.

May sighed and yanked a tripwire, creating the sound of running on a series of speakers to her right and – somehow – stored Digimon sweat. A false trail to lead the person chasing them away and into more painful traps while she and Dorumon got ready in the clearing for a real fight. Hopefully it could do enough damage to make a difference when they caught up. She slid to a stop with Dorumon beside her, curving behind a large rock. The pair glanced around the corner. "See anything?" Dorumon asked her partner.

May frowned and stared into the Darkness, seeing a pair of figures stop and glance in the direction of the trap. One was much taller than the other, and the shorter one was... definitely a Digimon. Dinosaur shaped. They talked to one another for a moment, the Digimon sniffing both trails. After a moment, the Digimon pointed in their direction. "Crap!" May hissed, sprinting off towards the nearest clearing. Dorumon gasped and charged after her.

"Agumon, Digivolve to..."

"Ah, crap," May grumbled as they neared the treeline.

A cyborg centaur with a flaming tail shot past them, sliding to a stop with his human partner on his back. "Centarumon!" The robotic voice came, deep and proud. It had golden fur, with large ovals of purple armor appearing all over its body at protected intervals. Its right arm was a metallic blaster, its left hand a gleaming, robotic claw with a chain and shackle attached. On its back were a pair of ducts, releasing some kind of gas and whining like engines in cool down. Its glowing, red eyes peeked out from its silvery, spartan-like metal helmet.

Dorumon jumped in front of May, eyes dilated as she got low and growled at the newcomer Digimon. "That was a nice try, Mayumi," the person on the back said as he dismounted, a Mediterranean accent tinting his words. "I'm afraid you'll have to come with me and Centarumon. We would rather not hurt either you or your Digimon, Digidestined."

Dorumon's growl intensified. "Who are you?" May asked distrustfully, keeping away from her Digivice so they wouldn't attack.

"Adrian Chiros, Mayumi. I am from Greece, and have been sent to collect you," the man said. He gestured at her.

Centarumon spoke up, then. "We would prefer to not exercise force against a child, but duty comes before what we want," he explained calmly. The weapon on his right arm sparkled with dangerous energy.

May glanced down. "You seem a lot nicer than the last person to come after me," she said. "But even if going with you was a real option, this is my home. I'm not leaving. She looked up. "So I'm going to give you a chance to leave."

The man sighed and pulled out his Digivice. "Then I guess this is how it has to be," he observed sadly.

Centarumon moved its feet to a fighting position. "Ready yourselves, Children. We will endeavor not to do lasting harm to either of you."

May reached into her pocket and pulled out her Digivice, taking note of what it said. "Centarumon, a Champion Animal Digimon of the Data type. It uses its blazing speed to amplify the power of its Jet Kick attack. If all else fails, it will use its Solar Ray attack as a last resort. No matter the Digimon, it will hit and it will make them go down. A Partner Digimon." So, had to deal with the speed and the type disadvantage. After a moment, her goggles began to glitch out. A Digital Field. She tore them off and put on her sunglasses, appreciating that the cloud of Digital smoke was casting enough of a glow for her to see.

"Sorry, but we can't make that promise back," Dorumon snarled angrily.

"Digi-modify! Hyperspeed activate!" May shouted, tapping the card on the screen. Dorumon glowed violet for a moment, then bolted to the side, leaving a bright after image as she circled the agent and Centarumon. "BlackAgumon activate!" Dorumon's eyes glowed, viral energy filling her body.

May turned on the agent and clenched her fists. In response, Chiros took out a gun, aiming it at her. "I'm not beating a child with my fists. Our Digimon will decide this battle."

"Yeah, keep it fair with the Champion versus Rookie fight," May growled. She bit her cheek. "But you won't stop me from Digi-Modifying her?"

Chiros shook his head. "No. You deserve that much," he said simply before holstering the gun. The two glared at one another for a moment, then turned back to the Digimon fighting nearby, and May knew that she was going to need that handicap that guy was giving her. Dorumon may have more speed than before and extra oomph from the BlackAgumon card turning her Viral, but it wasn't enough to keep up with Centarumon or keep the Champion's barrage of Jet Kicks from dealing damage to her.

Dorumon growled as another Jet Kick sent her flying backwards, skidding across the dirt. "Metal Shoot!" she snapped, firing off a series of small metal blasts at Centarumon. He raised his claw and batted them away, then charged at Dorumon again. His claw swiped at her head and she ducked, dodging beneath it. Then he shot forward with another Jet Kick, front knees slamming into Dorumon. She shouted in pain and took a half step back, at which point his claw came out and wrapped around her throat. He spun and slammed her into the ground, sending rock and dirt spraying upward.

"Dorumon!" May shouted, taking a half step forward before looking down at her Digivice. She had to have some kind of card stored that could help with this. She used an Energy card, only for Centarumon's continued assault to reverse that healing. A Wargreymon shield wouldn't help – it was a one sided, stationary shield. A Digimon like Centarumon wouldn't have any trouble against that. Ach! If only they'd stuck in the treeline. It wasn't dense, but a runner like Centarumon wouldn't be able to get up speed quite like this.

"I'm sorry, Child," Centarumon said solemnly after another Jet Kick had Dorumon's data fizzling.

"No..." May whispered, watching her friend get hurt. This is what she'd wanted to avoid! Fighting, being Digidestined, being agents! She didn't want Dorumon get hurt, she didn't want to fight. She hated fighting! She hated all of this!

Her brow furrowed angrily. But she wouldn't let it take her friend. She sprinted forward. "Wh-what the hell are you doing!?" Chiros shouted, too stunned at watching a sixteen year old girl charge a Digimon. She leaped up and slammed her shoulder into the centaur's flank... not budging him an inch.

"I won't let you hurt my friend!"

A bright, purple light exploded from her pocket and from Chiros' hand. He gasped and stared down at his Digivice. "N...no..." There was a cartoonish, grinning, purple dog on the screen, laughing at him.

"Dorumon Digivolve to..." A purple and white egg exploded into being around the rookie Digimon, though this one, May noted, was different. See through, almost. Dorumon's skin seemed to slide off of her, torn away from a purple wire frame. The figure and the egg exploded outward, growing to a size slightly larger than Centarumon. The wings on her back lengthened, growing into massive appendages capable of flight. Her tail grew longer as well, swirling into a dangerous weapon growing from her back. The claws on her larger arms and legs grew into dangerous talons, each the size of May's forearm. The skin began to flow back onto her like water, coating the wire frame with a much darker, almost black purple that was broken in zig zag stripes by the purple of Dorumon. Her wings were white on the bottoms, as well as a blade shaped tuft of fur on her tail, her hands, feet, and snout. There was a mane of white fur behind her sharp ears and the fur beneath them. The crystal on her forehead was a darker crimson now, matching the bloody claws. Then the egg shattered around her. "Dorugamon!"

The laughing dog on Chiros' Digivice vanished, replaced with text. "Dorugamon, a Data-Vaccine joint type Digimon that exibits the ferocity of a beast in battles, tempered by the intelligence of a dragon. Its Power Metal attack can destroy any Digimon unlucky enough to be hit by it, and those that dodge can count on being hit by a Cannonball or torn to shreds by its claws. A Partner Digimon."

"Get away from May!" Dorugamon screamed, her voice deeper but still recognizably Dorumon's. She flapped her wings and charged forward, claws grabbing hold of the stunned Centarumon's shoulders and dragging him into the air. May yelped as wind buffeted her and she brought her arm up to shield her face before glancing up at Dorugamon kicking and biting at Centarumon's hanging form.

"Digimondify! Togemon, activate!" the agent snapped.

"Needle Spray!" Centarumon snapped, and tiny darts shot out of his body. Dorugamon snarled in rage and dropped her prey, letting him plummet to the ground in a massive heap. The quadruped pushed himself up to his feet, growling. "I'll manage, Adrian."

"I know," Adrian muttered, though he looked anxious anyways. He glanced over at May, who was busy watching her newly Digivolved partner with open awe. "Energy, activate!" Centarumon glowed and his wounds vanished.

"Energy Ray!" Centarumon shouted as the glow vanished. He raised his gun hand and a quick beam of golden energy shot out, arcing towards his flying opponent.

Dorugamon raised her head and threw it forward a moment later, shouting, "Cannonball!" A metal sphere the size of May's head shot out of her mouth, crashing into the energy ray. The bolt and projectile exploded against one another, creating a cloud of smoke in the air that Dorugamon shot through a moment later, plunging towards Centarumon. "Cannonball!" Another shot flew at Centarumon, forcing the Cyborg to dodge to the side where another one was coming at him.

His left arm began to glow a bright red. "Heat Uppercut!" He jumped towards the attack, slamming his glowing claw into the attack and cleaving it in two. He brought his gun arm up again. "Energy Ray!" Another glowing beam shot from his arm. Dorugamon spun midair, the bolt flying between her flapping wings, and she slammed into Centarumon. He shouted in pain and slammed into a tree, shattering its trunk before slamming into the ground.

"Power Metal!" Dorugamon snapped from the air, the crystal on her head glowing brighter and brighter as energy accumulated in her body, and then she threw her head forward. A massive sphere shot from her mouth, flying like a bullet towards Centarumon's prone form. Still struggling to his feet, Centarumon couldn't do anything more than let the attack hit him. Dust and rock exploded upward, shattered trees raining bark to the ground before slowly revealing Centarumon on all four knees, his data glitching and his breathing pained.

"I told you to give up," May said, turning to the man as Dorugamon came up behind her, flapping her wings slowly as she approached the ground before landing with a huge thud. She grinned. "Just didn't expect it to go this well for us..."

Chiros glared at her for a moment, then turned and rushed over to his partner's side. "Centarumon! Are you all right?"

The Digimon glitched again and gasped in pain. "I... I'm fine..."

"This is my fault... I should have done whatever I needed to fight her. I should have -"

"No," Centarumon said. He turned his robotic gaze towards May and Dorugamon. "We fought with honor."

"But we could do more!" Chiros snapped at himself. He gasped and stared down at his Digivice as an orange light began to glow from its screen. "I believe in us! I believe in you!"

May glanced at her own Digivice and her eyes widened. It was orange, too. A plain orange screen. "Centarumon Digivolve to... Sagittarimon!" A black and red centaur charged out of an orange egg, wielding a huge bow. May brought her Digivice up. "Armor-Ultimate Digimon Sagittarimon, a wise sage and trainer of heroes that bears the crest of Hope and is the master of the bow. He uses his skill with the bow to cast a powerful, Chrome Digizoid arrow in its Judgement Arrow attack, but he's no slouch up close with his Meteor Gallop attack. A Partner Digimon."

"Meteor Gallop!" Sagittarimon shouted, body glowing with white energy before he shot towards Dorugamon. Dorugamon tried to respond, but the attack hit and she was sent flying back before she could even flap a wing. She flew into the air from the impact, soaring through the Digital Field to the edge before she could manage to catch herself with her wings. She began to gather energy for another attack. "Judgement Arrow!" His bow began to glow as he pulled an arrow from the quiver on his left hip, drawing it and letting it fly. It was barely feet from hitting Dorugamon, enough energy glowing in its tip to glitch her data.

"Bunny Blades!" The arrow vanished as a massive, human shaped brown rabbit flew into its path, a glowing ax replacing one of her hands and destroying the attack.

"Wow, we chose just the right time to join in, didn't we?" Suzie grinned from the Digimon's shoulder where she sat, holding onto her partner's ear for stability. She grinned and looked over her Gucci glasses. "Hey, Princess!"

"Antylamon, a – A Deva!?" Chiros looked over at his partner. "We should retreat for now. Try to come up with a plan later!"

"Agreed," Sagittarimon growled, dashing backwards and grabbing hold of his partner before the two vanished in a burst of speed.

"Follow him!" Suzie shouted, pointing.

"I think we have someone else to worry about, Suzie," Antylamon muttered. Her ax morphed back into a four fingered, brown paw before she slowly descended to the ground. She reached up and picked up May, placing her on the ground.

"Aunt Suzie!" May had never been so happy to see her aunt before, and charged forward to hug her tight. She sighed in relief and pulled in closer before freezing. "Wait, you -" She looked up at the giant rabbit, who cocked her head to the side. "Lopmon!?"

"Smells like her," Dorugamon explained as she landed.

"Hello, May," the giant rabbit said, closing her eyes and waving at the Digidestined girl. "I'm glad that we were able to keep you safe."

"You... can Digivolve to Ultimate?" she asked in awe, staring up at the Ultimate Digimon.

Antylamon nodded. "I met Suzie in this form," she explained. She scratched her chin. "I suppose we should deal with the incoming individuals, shouldn't we? Two Digimon, Tasuke, and another human..?"

"Davis..!" She glared at the ground. "Dammit, I forgot about the alarms! We trip any of the traps and the others are alerted!"

"I believe it is too late for us to get away. BlackGuilmon will likely have smelled me already," Antylamon explained to her partner.

"The nose of a Guilmon," Suzie muttered. She turned to May. "What do you want to do here?"

May went into thought, biting her thumb. "... Dedigivolve and we lie. If Davis doesn't know that you can hit Ultimate, maybe he won't turn you in. They want to keep us happy, after all, and he won't risk that over a rookie Digimon," She supplied hopefully.

Suzie and Antylamon nodded, and with a pink flash the large rabbit shrank down to Lopmon once more. The rabbit jumped onto her partner's shoulder as soon as the humans removed their glasses. "It's dark without the Digital Field," Suzie said, glancing around with squinting eyes. "I can barely see you!"

"Well, I can see you," May said, grinning as she pulled on her night vision goggles again. She looked over at Dorugamon, who had turned towards the distance. "That them?"

"That's them," Dorugamon confirmed.

X X X

"May! May, are you okay!?" I shouted as I sprinted up, freezing as my flashlight hit Dorugamon.

"Ow, my eyes!" May screamed, tearing off –

"Oops. I didn't see the night vision goggles!" I shouted, moving the light away from her. I stammered for a moment, then turned to Dorugamon. "You Digivolved!"

"That annoying little dog Digivolved before me!?" BlackGuilmon screamed, pointing angrily with one claw at the large, furry dragon smirking down at him. "No! I don't believe it! You cheated!"

"It's not a race, BlackGuilmon." I looked over at Suze. "Why are you still here? Davis will get here any minute!"

Almost as if he was making sure to arrive with dramatic timing, a white, armored Digimon jumped out from above the trees, Davis sitting on his back. The white creature fell and landed softly nearby despite its mass and metallic armor. My Digivice lit up and scanned the creature, but I didn't need it. "BaoHuckmon, a Digimon that has evolved through strict training and combat, each victory and loss driving is aspirations to become a powerful defender. He gets in close to fight, carving his enemies with the Teen Blade attack on its red hot tail, or counterattacking with Burn Flame from afar."

"Nerd," May told me.

"And who's this?" Davis asked as he jumped off of his Digimon. He walked up to our aunt while BaoHuckmon rushed up to Dorugamon. The two began to prance around excitedly, happy to see she had Digivolved to a new large size. BlackGuilmon was snarling at the two, which only made them play more and louder. Davis cast the two a glance, trying to hide his smile, then returned his stern gaze to May and Suze.

"Suzie Wong. You must be a knight for my princess and prince!" she shouted, gesturing at May and me.

Lopmon sighed on her shoulder and shook her head. "She is May's aunt. And I am Lopmon. She is my Tamer," Lopmon explained simply. She held out her ear for Davis to shake.

He didn't.

"What are you doing here?" He turned to May. "What happened, Anderson?"

"I was out with my aunt when I spotted a tail. You told us to come here if that happened," she told us. She crossed her arms. "I told Suzie to stay put and ran out here."

"That's true, she did tell us to stay put," Suze confirmed with a grin. "I mean, we didn't of course. I wasn't going to let my niece do something like that alone!"

"Not that it mattered, of course. She had defeated her opponent upon helping Dorugamon Digivolve," Lopmon cut in, moving the conversation forward.

"Nice!" I shouted, holding my hand out to May for a high five.

"... Then where's the agent?" Davis interjected, voice even and guarded.

"He Digivolved again and nearly took Dorugamon down," May explained, her hand dropping from mine and glaring at the ground angrily. "But when he smelled you guys coming he bolted just to be safe. And with a Sagittarimon, there's no way we'll be able to catch up to them."

BaoHuckmon and Dorugamon stopped playing around and walked over, followed by a loudly grumbling and snarling BlackGuilmon. "Yeah, I couldn't catch up to that even if I Digivolved. At least not with the head start they have."

"And where were you during this time?" Davis asked Suze instead.

Suze sighed. "Well, there's not a lot that a Rookie could do against an Ultimate. We would have just gotten in the way," she explained with a shrug.

Davis scoffed in disbelief. And with good reason, I thought. If Lopmon used to be a Deva, that meant she was Antylamon. An Ultimate. I doubted she couldn't reach that form again. "You can't Digivolve? After how long you've had your Digimon?"

"We aren't fighters, you know," Lopmon explained. She wagged her finger at Davis. "Some Digimon aren't here to fight. We got too much of that in the Digital World, you know."

Davis scratched his chin for a moment, then finally decided that was good enough and let his hands fall to his hips to strike an authorative pose. "Hm... Well this is how this is going to give me your Digivice and come with-"

"No, this is how it's going to go down," Suze cut in, grinning evilly. She put her finger out and jabbed Davis in his chest. "You aren't going to tell anyone about me. At all. And there's no way I'm giving you my Digivice. I don't work for you."

Davis glanced at May and me, and we quickly turned away. He wasn't going to get any support from us against family of all people. He snarled at us and turned back to Suze. "Ha... No. You don't have any lever -"

"Leverage? Other than telling Henry everything?" Lopmon asked, smirking as evilly as her partner. Davis immediately shut up, and the two of us palled. "If that happens, it won't go well for you. Henry has, from what we've heard, some kind of influence in your organization. He won't let these two do anything for you."

May and I traded a look. We'd assumed he had some influence, given he knew Gethen. But enough to keep us out of the organization? That was – But Davis, he hadn't retorted. He hadn't replied... Suze... Suze was right! Henry was important, maybe even more than two Digidestined? "... Fine," Davis finally replied. He clenched his fists and took a deep breath to clear out his anger. Then, opening his eyes, he continued, "If you don't tell Dr. Wong about this, I won't tell the Director about you." He turned to May. "I'll want all the info you have about this agent and their Digimon that you can give me. But we can deal with that tomorrow. Head home and heal up."

"Oh, no. I'm not De-Digivolving so I can go -" Dorugamon began, then a purple flash exploded around her and a tiny Dorimon appeared where she'd been standing. "- home and – What? Oh, dang it!"

"Yes!" BlackGuilmon shouted at the same time, ecstatic he was no longer the one in the lowest stage at that moment. He shoved Dorimon with his leg and laughed as she turtled as she always did, screaming to May about it.

"Well, a Digimon can only De-Digivolve if both they and their partner want it to happen, so I think she's protesting a bit much," BaoHuckmon told us over Dorimon's screams of rage.

"So you want to be that little runt?" BlackGuilmon asked her in disgust before he began laughing at her.

"At least I can Digivolve!" Dorimon retorted, and the laughing stopped.

"What was that?" he growled back.

"KayKay, we should get going before this gets worse," May said, marching over and shoving BlackGuilmon, ignoring his very human string of expletives. "Out of the way, Troll." She picked up her partner and scratched her back. "Let's get going."

"Your Digimon seems good," Suze said as she gave my shoulder a pat. I looked over, hoping she was joking. She wasn't. "Rude, but I like your dragon's fire!"

X X X

Jen followed Cadetmon's directions cautiously through the streets of Denver. She'd been lucky to get a job as a substitute teacher using her false records, which meant she and her partner could sniff out their target during the day, and she got to head out to a few different schools already. They hadn't managed to find any Digimon yet, but Jen could feel it in her bones that they were on the right track. And when Cadetmon had caught scent of a Digimon while they were driving, she felt like this was her chance. "Where to now?" she asked at the stop sign. She scanned the cars in front of her, trying to keep an eye on which ones had been around at the last few lights so she could get more space. She'd narrowed it down to three cars.

The cars began moving and her partner pointed after one of them. "Right." The pickup truck, then, Jen noted. She turned right and slowed down to put space between them. Maybe then the other Digimon wouldn't be able to smell Cadetmon following them.

"Do you think this is that Digidestined?" Cadetmon wondered as they continued tailing the truck.

Jen shrugged. "I don't know," she admitted. She clenched her fists on the wheel. "I guess that means we fight, then."

"And if it's not?" Cadetmon asked carefully.

Jen shrugged again. "I don't know."

Cadetmon rolled his eyes. "Winging it?"

"You now me so well," she said, smirking at her partner.

The truck pulled into a motel parking lot, and Jen turned the other direction, going across the street and pulling out surveillance material. "Let's see what this person's up to," she said as she hooked it up to the car's radio so they could hear.

" - tunate that we were able to escape. Between the Digidestined and her handlers, I doubt that we could have stood up to them even if I was Sagittarimon," one voice said. It was the Digimon, they assumed. "Her Dorugamon was powerful, as was the Antylamon."

"Well, then there must be another Digidestined. Dorugamon isn't a Hazard Digimon, even if it is one of the most dangerous Digimon I can think of," Cadetmon observed.

Jen chuckled. "Yeah, yeah, we've both seen X-Evolution," she said dismissively. "And Antylamon isn't a Hazard, either. But how they got their hands on a Deva..? I thought they all got killed twenty years ago."

"Apparently not all of them," Cadetmon said. He tapped the side of his head. "That's big news..."

The other voice replied to their Digimon. "I agree... Retreating wouldn't have been my first choice, but it was necessary," the man said. He sighed, then. "I guess that is the price for an honorable battle."

The voices turned to Greek and Jen sighed at the device. "Well, we're lucky they decided to speak in English at all," Cadetmon pointed out as more useless Greek and English cut in. "And now we know the brand of socks he wears..."

Jen turned and unplugged the device. "I... have an idea."

"A good one?" Cadetmon wondered skeptically.

Jen glanced to the right, then back ahead. "Maybe?" she supplied. She gestured at the motel. "We, uh... How do you feel about backup?"

Cadetmon stared at her blankly. "This is a foreign agent who fights children."

"Are we much better?" Jen countered.

Cadetmon sighed. "Okay. Fine." He stared over at the building. "I hope this works out for us..."

"Oh, come on, of course it will!" Jen exclaimed. She shut off the car and picked her partner up so she could carry him like a toy. "And if there are really three other people with Digimon, we'll need all the help we can get."

"And what are you going to tell them?" Cadetmon wondered, trying to make sure she had a plan.

Jen smiled. "You heard him. He's got some kind of honor or hero complex. We tell him that we have to destroy a Digimon or Gethen will take over the world, and he'll help us out of his own free will."

"The truth isn't exactly what I was hoping you'd be telling him," Cadetmon muttered dryly.

"Relax. What's the worst that could happen?"

"We die. I can't Digivolve to Ultimate, remember?"

"We'll be fine!"

Jen knocked on the motel door they had seen the agent enter. "Hello? We, uh, we were hoping we could talk with you? About Digimon?"

The other side of the door was silent for a moment, then it slid opened inward. "Come in slowly, and no funny business. Or I'll shoot." There was the characteristic 'click' of a gun being readied and Jen traded a nervous glance with Cadetmon before doing as she was told. She walked into the main area of the motel and looked around for the man, then turned in surprise as the doo slid closed and he came out from behind it, a Koromon bouncing beside him. "Who are you?"

Jen motioned with Cadetmon at the bed and the man nodded. She placed her partner down and sighed. "We're former agents of D-CARD, and we need your help."

The man's aim didn't falter. "You wish to defect. I am not here on official EU business, so I doubt that would -"

"Defect? Ha! No, we don't want to defect," Jen laughed, shaking her hand at him. She shook her head. "Defect? You hear that Cadetmon?"

The gun clicked again. "What she means, is there is something more important," Cadetmon cut in before things could devolve. "The leader of D-CARD has made a deal with something terrible. Koromon, what do you know of Reapmon?"

The pink ball's eyes widened. "He made a deal with Reapmon? That's an actually evil Digimon, though!" he whispered hoarsely. He turned to his partner and began to speak in Greek, having a quiet conversation with the man. After a moment, the man sighed and holstered his weapon.

"Speak," he commanded.

Jen nodded. "Well, from what we know, a Hazard Digimon showed up here about a month ago. We were sent to pick something up from the Firewall, and brought it in," she explained. She shook her head. "And that's when Cadetmon overheard them."

"The Director was speaking with Reapmon about taking over the world," Cadetmon finished. "Both of them."

Koromon looked up at his partner. "With a Hazard, it's certainly possible."

"So there are two Digidestined here," Chiros said, placing a hand on his chin.

"Which means D-CARD has three," Koromon added. "Including the boy who has already reached Ultimate."

"And I doubt you want Reapmon and his allies crossing over," Cadetmon said gravely.

"... We can't head back, yet," Koromon mumbled nervously.

Chiros sighed before he and Koromon turned to Jen and Cadetmon. "Okay. What do we do?"

X X X

Well, of course May and Dorimon Digivolved first. I mean, Henry and me did, too. It must run in his family to have great, fun partners who are better than everyone else. Unlike Takato and Rika. Don't get me wrong, Guilmon and Renamon are great! But one's... well, Guilmon thinks with his stomach first, you know? And Renamon couldn't Momentai if her life depended on it! I guess Lopmon is pretty good, but she looks like me so that was a given. Not as good, but not bad.

I wonder if this team up between Jen and Adrian will end up being a problem. I mean,we didn't really have fights between Tamers back when I was leading everybody around. Not other than that first couple times we met Rika, but that barely counts. And we almost never had to fight someone a second time! I mean usually cause we killed them, but... Momentai, okay?

Look, just... Henry, you're doing this on the next Digimon: Digital Monsters, okay!? I'm going to hang out with Guilmon and Calumon!