AN: Hey everyone. I hope you're all okay, what with Coronavirus closures. My job might send some people away to work from home. Not me, of course, but some people, so it must be worse than I thought. Still, nothing to riot or steal over. Stay safe, wash your hands, all that.

Anyways, outside of that, how are all of you? I'm working on building a D&D group now that I've moved. Seems to be going well, but I don't know if a meeting will actually start until after the self-quarantining ends. But thankfully I haven't figured out where to play yet, so I guess that just means more time to figure it out.

Now for responses!

To Jackie Mueller: Of course there was a JoJo's reference! Tasuke is named that for two reasons. One: the Ta- prefix for the individual name is a pattern in Takato's family (Takehiro, Takato) that I didn't want to break. Then when looking up some JJBA stuff, I found -Suke is a rather common ending to individual names in Japan, so... Two: There's no reason not to make a JoJo's reference when the opportunity arises.

To reddevil47: I get being apprehensive of this story. Even compared to Digimon Tamers it's handling a darker subject matter, if only because it's more real than a Demonic Virus that feeds off of a little girl's Depression to destroy the world. I'm honestly toning down what I think international spy agencies would do in this situation. If naturally occurring WMDs ended up even more powerful in the hands of children, they'd probably start farming Digidestined, for lack of a better term. Every government. Or just kidnap the kids and forcibly raise them in a horrifying Stranger Things-esque experiment. But don't worry, I'm not even going to put the main characters up against kids. Mentioning that Digidestined have died is as close as I'd ever get to that, but I'd never have kids fight to the death in this story. That's approaching 'real world' too dark for me. I still want this to be happy and fun, after all. I hope that the balance keeps staying enough to make the story light; it is Digimon.

Episode 20: Homeward Bound: Black...Gigimon!?

I pulled on my shirt and sweatshirt, finally feeling clean from the lukewarm showers that had been set up in our warehouse base. While I toweled off my hair – God it was getting long and annoying – I clenched my free fist and thought about everything that had happened that night. BlackGuilmon had Digivolved. He'd finally Digivolved, and our Merge Rate had jumped back up to thirty three, higher than ever! It was only too bad we hadn't managed to Load that Sealsdramon; maybe we'd be closer to Ultimate, then. And with how much that traitor agent had talked about hurting BlackGuilmon or pointed a gun at me, I wished that I could have been the one to get rid of her. Besides, I don't know if Davis can handle doing that anymore. When we finally made it back to him, soaked in blood from his earlier fight with that Chiros guy... he looked like he was the dead one. Gray, hollow, and stiff. His voice was coarse and quiet. He'd taken his shower first then left with little more than a simple goodbye to me and BlackGuilmon, who had mercifully allowed himself to DeDigivolve when I brought up the warehouse had indoor heating.

At least May was okay. She had apparently been worried sick, but stuck on a bus with the rest of the school on their way home. My text had, understandably, made her freak out and the moment she got home she dialed me and began screaming at me over the phone. Was I okay, what happened, who was Chiros working with, was BlackGuilmon okay? It was the last question that really surprised me, even when I learned that it had been a request from Dorimon. I'd decided not to tell him that the other Digimon cared enough to ask, given his opinion on friendship with her or Huckmon so far. So I'd gone through it all with her. When she realized I was okay, all she said at the end was, "Damn. I was hoping the Troll wouldn't Digivolve until we could make fun of him some more." It was a good enough joke for us both to laugh, if only to clear the terror of the day. BlackGuilmon had watched in confusion, then settled back down with only minor grumbling.

I finished drying my hair and tossed the towel aside before checking my Digivice. It was still pretty early, all things considered, but I was exhausted. Running through the cold, slipping, falling, and then fighting for my life and the life of my partner? I was thinking about sleeping through next week until I realized I'd miss Thanksgiving. And then I realized I was just as hungry as I was tired and decided it would probably be a good idea to get some food before heading home to collapse on my bed. I pulled my shoes on and moved out.

BlackGuilmon, who had been sleeping a couch cushion he'd thrown onto the ground, woke up immediately and angled his head at me. "Okay, I'll be heading home," I told him. I stopped and turned towards him, walking over to scratch his head on a whim. He appreciatively grumbled. "I'll see you tomorrow."

I turned to leave again, but was stopped when razor sharp claws ever so carefully grabbed hold of me like fingers. I glanced back at BlackGuilmon, his reptilian features strangely readable despite their alien nature. He looked embarrassed, glancing away from me with his eyes. "I would like to say something first, Tasuk – Taj," he began, stunning me before I could say anything. Taj? Taj!? He knew only my friends called me that. I mean, I'd offered to let him, but... I never expected him to do it! He let go of and I nodded, the motion shaking away my thoughts so I could hear.

BlackGuilmon took a deep breath and moved to sit on his haunches. "I... am..." He huffed and scratched both sides of his head like an annoyed dog, pulling his wing shaped ears in and over his eyes. I just blinked and remained where I was – I wasn't going to risk screwing this up, whatever it was. He growled and looked straight up. "You are a... Hmm..." He looked at me, almost about to ask if I understood, then shook his head. "I... Thank you. For coming to the park for me. And for the Cinnabon. And caring."

I blinked then crouched down to see eye to eye with my Digimon. "We're friends, Buddy. We'll fight, we just need to make up." I scratched his head before pulling him into a hug. It was like hugging a heated, weighted blanket. "Let's agree no more running away, though?"

The Digimon huffed and nodded. "Agreed."

I pushed my friend to arms length and scratched his head. "I'll be back tomorrow, okay?"

"Actually, there was something else," BlackGuilmon cut in. He sighed. "I wish to go to your home. Clearly we will be targets, and being able to fight together quickly is necessary." After a moment his grin turned wicked. "And it will be quicker to Load Digimon if we can fight at a moment's notice!"

I chuckled and nodded. "Okay. But... You do know I can't have a giant dinosaur at home."

"What's a Dinosaur?" he asked. I rolled my eyes and unceremoniously gestured at him. "Oh! Uh... Well, I would be willing... to, ugh, DeDigivolve."

I was stunned again.

"What!?" he snapped at my silence, perceiving it as some kind of insult.

I threw my hands up. "I'm just surprised, is all!" I admitted. I stood up tall and pulled out my Digivice. "To be honest, I don't know how this works. We both have to want you to DeDigivolve, right?"

He nodded. "So want it."

I scoffed. "I want you to DeDigivolve, so you need to want it."

"You!"

"You!"

"YOU!"

"I have been suggesting this for months, BlackGuilmon!"

"Well... It's not my fault!"

I could already tell this was going to take way too damn long. I was going to have to decide between a nap and lunch, wasn't I?

X X X

Huckmon stared up at his partner, more worried than he had been in quite a long time for the human kid. Ever since he had killed the Greek agent, Davis had been... quiet. It was normal, but the fact he could say that made Huckmon sad. When he'd connected with a human child, all he knew about the human world was what he had been born with. That children were meant to be bright, fun creatures and it was his job to make sure that smile didn't waver. Seeing Davis staring at his own hands, now physically clean but still stained in Davis' own vision, Huckmon felt like a miserable failure. He turned away and set his gaze on the inactive screen on the wall, staring at his own reflection. He wouldn't let being a failure stop him; he'd succeed at saving Davis' smile one day.

And then the screen lit up and Huckmon was staring at his biggest obstacle. "Report," Director Gethen commanded, more than a little bored as he examined other reports and information at his desk. He glanced over after a moment of silence and cleared his throat. Davis glanced up and let his hands fall to his side. "Report."

Davis nodded. "Yes, Sir." He coughed and stood up straight, putting on that mask that Huckmon hated seeing so much. "The enemy engaged in a two pronged attack on the two assets. Despite all the information I had to the contrary, the Greek agent, Chiros, was not working alone. Furthermore, it seems that our analysts severely misjudged his mental state. He was willing to attack Asset Anderson and myself in public, in broad daylight. I sent the asset away and – and I dealt with him while SaviorHuckmon dealt with Sagittarimon."

"No concern for the Unspoken Law, then," Director Gethen noted. He sighed and shook his head. "His defeat at the asset's hands must have unnerved him more than our analysts believed. Still, both Greece and the greater EU have disavowed him as a rogue agent. It's likely they sent him in the first place, but I doubt that they would have agreed with his plan of attack. The Unspoken Law is too useful in preventing HYPNOS from bulldozing most of the smaller nations. As powerful as we are, ourselves included." Gethen smiled. "For now. Tell me of BlackGuilmon's Digivolution."

Davis fought down his feelings about Gethen grinning at one of his friends being put in danger. "Agent Chiros was working with someone else, something that makes more sense given his instability. What does not make sense, however, is that we weren't aware of his partner at all. I had no idea that a member of D-CARD had recently defected and was heading in this direction. Perhaps I missed it in one of our briefings?"

Gethen's eyes left the papers he was reading and slowly turned to Davis. "There was nothing to imply that the former Agent Smith was looking for either of the assets," the Director explained, his voice steely and angry. "And betrayals such as that are on a strictly need to know basis. You know that information like that getting out can cause huge problems for the agency and the nation. What did you do with her?"

Davis bit his tongue for a moment, finally reaching the last moment that he could turn back from his decided course of action. His last chance to listen. And maybe if Gethen had been honest about what he was planning? If he hadn't helped let loose that Ultimate near the school to make sure Ogremon could attack the others? If he wasn't threatening Davis with his eyes right then and there?

But no. Screw him. "She began with absurd claims about you. That you somehow have a way to speak with or communicate with Digimon in the Digital World when that is impossible. I made it clear I did not believe and told her to surrender. She tried to Digivolve her partner despite my warnings that she should not. I had SaviorHuckmon deal with them, and the evidence." He looked at his hands again, the image of blood reappearing. He had killed, even if he had let Jennifer Smith run free.

Gethen sighed and shook his hand dismissively, barely even listening to the 'absurd rumors.' He was an excellent liar to take it in stride that well. "Yes, yes, but what happened with the asset?"

Davis felt something in him creak with rage. That was his question? He didn't even care that Davis had, supposedly, killed two people that day? It wasn't anything particularly new, but the idea he may be working with one of the most evil Digimon in existence made the familiar sting all the more painful. Davis clenched his fists slightly and looked back up. "Smith engaged BlackGuilmon and Joryawa in combat, threatening to murder the Digimon. The two did not agree and a fight broke out. It was at this point BlackGuilmon and Joryawa's relationship reached the requisite point to Digivolve. BlackGrowlmon managed to defeat Sealsdramon and Smith, forcing them to run. Shortly afterward, he returned to his original form and returned with us to the Warehouse."

"So, the first step towards opening our path to the Digital World is complete," Gethen said. A power hungry grin spread across his face. "You've done well, Agent Estevez. Your country thanks you. And, I'm sure, your mother would as well if she knew. Keep me apprised of the progress in the assets reaching Ultimate. Once that's done, we'll be able to advance to the final stage."

"Sir." Davis nodded dutifully.

The Director stared into Davis' eyes for a few moments. Finally, he said, "You've done well: I believe a reward is in order. Submit a request by the end of the year and I will approve it." Then the screen shut off.

Davis and Huckmon let out their held breath in heavy sighs. "He bought it..." Davis muttered quietly. He and Huckmon looked at one another. "I think."

Huckmon nodded. "I think so... I hope."

The two were unsure, and realized they could do little more than that. "Let's get home and have some chocolate? How about it?" Davis suggested with a half-smile. He leaned down to hug his partner tight, holding him close like a security blanket. Huckmon let him. After all making sure this kid was okay was his job. And he wanted to succeed, even if only for this moment.

Huckmon forced his usual, cheerful voice for his partner's sake. "Sounds great, Davis! You better buy me extra today. You know how hungry going Ultimate makes me!"

X X X

Lucas Gethen stared at the screen as it shut off, separating him from the Digidestined agent over a thousand miles away. "It isn't often a human can surprise me," he finally told himself. He put down the papers he had been looking at and absent mindedly brushed off one sleeve of his crimson suit. "Congratulations Digidestined Davis Estevez, you are one of a rare few. I truly thought your fear for your mother and her position would keep you under my thumb for at least a while longer, but accusing me? Even subtly? I'm impressed." He sighed and pulled out a small device. "I'm unsure if you did kill Smith, but it matters little. One Tamer who can barely reach Champion isn't an issue, especially when she would be driven away before she could harm your friends. And even if others learn what she knew what's a few more stupid humans and overly loyal Digimon fighting me?"

He pulled the device up and placed it on his desk. Placing his hand on top of it for a few moments, he pulled back and it sparked to life, sending a small Digital Field into the air above it. "Reapmon."

The shadow appeared in the Digital Field, ominous and threatening. "Yes, Sir?" the rasping voice of the Digimon inquired quietly.

Gethen smiled and leaned back, tenting his fingers. "The Digidestined have completed stage one and reached Champion. The plan is progressing as I have foreseen... aside from a few hiccups that can be easily rectified," he admitted. He placed one hand, fingers stretched out so his palm didn't touch the surface, on the table. "Agent Estevez' loyalty can no longer be counted upon. But that shouldn't be a huge problem. Either I can regain it, or we can enact one of our more... fun backup plans."

"Should we begin efforts to Bio-Emerge?"

"It could take some time... Yes. Contact me when you reach the point. Until then, what has been happening with the Tamers?" Gethen responded. He placed the hand on the table onto his chin. "Keeping apprised of their location is important for my future efforts in controlling the Hazard's Digidestined."

"Of course," Reapmon's shadow replied. "They found and reunited with the annoying one when he was nearly Loaded by a troop of Gorillamon."

"Don't sound so disappointed. Having him dead would only drive the Tamers to do something... foolish. Especially since you reported last time that they have found a way to communicate with Wong. He would become quite easy to predict, in that he would become quite mopey. Which in turn would make the Digidestined difficult to control or predict. And likely, the Crimson Knight would behave erratically. His rage was last awoken by the death of an ally, after all."

"Of course, Sir. Merely a greedy thought." Reapmon's arm came up in a half bow. "I will begin preparations on this side of the Firewall, and then we can Bio-emerge sometime in the next few months. The weak point is in the same location, yes?"

"Yes... For now, I think it may be time to step up efforts on this end, as well," he sighed. He glanced over at the papers. The files for the three Japanese agents lay open on his desk, describing a mixture of Digidestined and Tamer as well as their partners. "Given how slow they can be in acting, perhaps it is time for HYPNOS to learn about what we have on our hands. And, to ensure that the children grow to their potential, it may be time to break my agreement with Henry Wong. If the world knows he is here, it's only a matter of time before they would have to defend him, emotions running high and fueling their power. And, I must admit, I am growing impatient. But my plan will work, it's too well thought out to not succeed."

X X X

Henry was deep in thought in the basement, the watch repair glasses on his face magnifying his eyes screwed up in concentration. He carefully, with the minuscule movements that his mother had once told him could have been those of a surgeon, moved his tools to push back wiring. Yet again, the physical formation of the Digivice had changed after sending out a red glow earlier that day. He wasn't quite sure of what that could have been, but he had a suspicion that it was connected to his ward. And now he was completely having to re-develop his understanding of a machine he'd had since he was twelve. Already, it was clear it had a... connection. A network of some kind that held a fuzzy, nebulous link with something very close and very far. The other D-Powers, those of his friends trapped in the Digital World, most likely. He supposed that the superpositional overlap of the Digital World with the internet placing them simultaneously in the house and at the edge of human understanding in space was what made the connection between his Digivice and Takato's and Rika's stronger than, say, the connection between his own and his sister's. Now, if he could only trace that connection more exactly. Perhaps he could find a way to circumvent the Firewall they had built, then.

The door upstairs swung open and Momentai began to yip loudly, which, instead of stopping as it usually did when Tasuke got home, got louder. A moment later, Tasuke's voice came down, "Momentai! Momentai, no!"

Henry raised an eyebrow and put his things down, replacing his watch repair glasses with his normal ones before turning and looking up the stairs. "Momentai – BG, stop that!" Henry's other eyebrow raised. BG? Henry sighed and pushed himself up, ignoring the creaking in his knees, and made his way upstairs. "Tasuke, what's -" he froze as he opened the door.

Tasuke was holding Momentai and a small, black creature apart from one another. The thing had small ears, almost wing shaped as they popped out of the back of its head. Its golden eyes were narrowed as it growled at Momentai, crinkling the crimson triangles beneath them. "BG!" Tasuke hissed, grabbing the creature by its face and shoving it back.

Tasuke really brought his Digimon home? He couldn't tell if he was as confident as his mother or as... more stupid than his father. That could be a fine line, he supposed. Tasuke's gaze shot up and froze, clearly worried that Henry recognized the creature. He did, of course. Guilmon had DeDigivolved into a Gigimon after the defeat of the D-Reaper, and a few times after Henry had moved to America for college and the others had come to visit him. Henry moved over to the Digimon and crouched down, scratching his head with both hands. "Who's a good doggie?"

Tasuke's relief was palpable. "Someone must be breeding ugly dogs," he began, drawing an annoyed growl from the Digimon. Or perhaps, Henry noted, that was because of his own aggressive petting of its face. "I found him near where May found hers."

"A hairless dog shouldn't be outside," Henry said, still using his 'dog voice' as he scrunched BG's face. And the Digimon really did feel like a hairless dog, the scales so fine and soft that they were imperceptibly different from skin. This was the same lie Takato had used to smuggle Gigimon, and for good reason.

Growing annoyed with being ignored, Momentai ran up and shoved his way into Henry's petting zone with a yip, squishing BG even more and eliciting an angrier growl. Henry laughed and decided to let them go to stand up. BG immediately broke from Momentai, catching his eye and getting him to chase the Digimon down, which it was clear BG was not interested in. "So, you obviously want to keep him," Henry said, smiling as he watched the dog nearly catch the round Digimon a few times.

"Just for now! He's kind of a lot of trouble." Tasuke leaned in close as he said that, hand between his mouth and the Digimon.

Henry resisted the urge to scoff at that: of course he was a lot of trouble. "Just for now," Henry said. "We'll look to see if anyone is missing a dog tomorrow and then set up some fliers." Henry watched Tasuke flicker to panic before nodding and letting loose a massive yawn.

Henry felt actually confused, now. "Tired?"

"Stayed up until three playing video games," Tasuke admitted sheepishly. Henry glared at him in disappointment. "I know, I know... Sorry. I'm just going to go nap before dinner, okay? It's the real reason I didn't want to go to the game. Not that it matters; May says they're rescheduling because of the weather."

Henry sighed. Always a teenager, spending all night awake like that. "Fine, nap. But you'll be cleaning up after dinner for doing something that stupid," he told the teenager. Tasuke just grinned sheepishly and headed upstairs. "I'll keep an eye on the new dog – BG, right?" Tasuke faltered a step on the stairs and hid it with a yawn before throwing a thumbs up behind him.

Henry watched him go, then waited for the door to click shut. Then he turned and looked down. BG was snarling and kicking Momentai away, trying to keep the dog from sniffing his backside. When Momentai got too close, BG finally turned and snapped his jaw, sending Momentai sprinting away in fear. Then, feeling Henry's eyes on him, he turned and growled like an annoyed dog. "Dogs like getting their butts sniffed," Henry finally said, his voice unimpressed with the creature's half-hearted and, honestly, half-witted attempt at acting the part of a dog. "Not that a Digimon would know that."

BG jumped backwards, then look side to side. "Bark."

Henry cringed. "And they don't say the word 'bark,'" he pointed out with a heavy sigh of disappointment. "How Tasuke ever thought this could work... I was wrong. He's dumber than his father."

"... So you know."

Henry chuckled. "That's obvious, BlackGigimon."

The Digimon sighed and waddled forwards, where he took an authoritative stance. "What are you going to do about it!?" he challenged with a growl. Tiny wisps of smoke spiraled out of his nostrils. "Nothing, that's what!"

"If this is the most threatening you can be like this, I think even Momentai could handle you." Henry reached down and picked up the Digimon, scratching his head until the Digimon sighed in contentment and let himself be held like a small dog. "But you're right. I won't do anything. At least, if you make a deal with me."

The Digimon stiffened in his arms, but Henry's grip tightened to keep him in place. "I could keep him from being a Tamer. If I wanted to, I would find a way. Lock you away, find a way to destroy his Digivice – it's been done before – or even ruin Gethen. It would be dangerous, but it might be less dangerous than letting him continue."

BlackGigimon stopped futilely struggling and glared up at Henry. "I'm sensing a but, Human."

Henry glared at the creature but let his attitude slide. "But, I don't want to lose him. Doing those things would mean that I lose my s... lose Tasuke," Henry admitted. He loosed his grip on the Digimon and placed him down on the couch. "So you're going to tell me everything, and you're not going to tell anyone about what I know, not because I am telling you but because I am asking you. Please, I need to know Tasuke is okay, so please..." Henry sighed and crouched down to meet the angry looking Digimon's eyes. "Please help me do that. Tell me everything so I can keep him safe and -" Henry bowed to the tiny Digimon. "Please, keep him safe because I can't. Not anymore. And neither can his parents. Like when I was a boy, he can only depend on you and whatever other Tamers are with you."

BlackGigimon scrunched up his face and the smoke began rising again. Finally, it stopped. "I don't have a choice," he admitted, voice much softer. Henry almost felt like he could hear Guilmon again. "He is my friend. I know that now. I won't let anything hurt him, and I won't let him down. Not about this, not when he... needs this more than even I do..."

This was the monster? The Hazard Digimon responsible for... evil things? Well, he supposed that Tasuke took after his mother in more than a few ways as well, then. Calmer headed, and apparently a perfect fit to partner with a homicidal Digimon. Though like his father, it seemed he was befriending the Digimon rather than making bad decisions. "Thank you. Now why does he need this?"

"When we all reach Ultimate, we can punch a hole into the Digital World," BlackGigimon said nonchalantly.

Henry fell onto his back, stars swirling in his vision. It was that easy!?

X X X

Suzie twirled laughed excitedly and sprinted ahead as she got to the Denver Airport's baggage claim. Her carry on rattled behind her as she rocketed ahead to where an older couple with graying hair was waiting for their bags. "Mama! Papa!" she shouted in Japanese. The pair turned towards her as she skidded to a stop in front of them, wrapping them into a tight hug, jostling the man's glasses nearly off of his face. "It's so good to see you both!"

Janyu Wong smiled softly and reached up to push the thick spectacles back onto his wrinkled face. "My princess!" he exclaimed as he and his wife hugged her back. They came to arm's length a moment later. Janyu brushed down his wrinkled sweater then returned his arm to his wife's shoulder.

Mayumi, his wife, fixed her own glasses and chuckled. "It's been too long, Suzie," she remarked, grabbing her daughter's hand. "Let me get a good look at you!" She fixed her glasses with her free hand and examined her daughter, dressed in brown jeans and boots with a pink blouse. Over one arm was her pink and brown winter coat; she'd become used to warmer climates, and the snow in Colorado was going to get to her. Truthfully, Janyu admitted, it got to him too, now. In his joints. That's one reason he and his wife lived further south now, with sun and heat and no mention of –

The tiny creature poked its head out of Suzie's purse and Janyu, despite his appreciation for Lopmon, felt his mood sour. This nation's government – as well as his own homeland and his wife's – hadn't stopped bothering him to work for them until he had retired from teaching and moved. He was tired of Digimon's influence in his life and their effect on the lives of those he loved. Even Tasuke had lost his parents because of a project Janyu had made a game of in college. Still, Janyu supposed he could accept a single, harmless Digimon in his family, especially one that kept Suzie safe. Janyu shoved the emotions down and nodded at Lopmon, who nodded back before vanishing into the bag once more.

"I'm so excited for the next few weeks! I'm basically done with recording my part, so I have the entire holiday off to spend with everyone!" Suzie exclaimed. She glanced up the line of baggage claim and sighed. "I suppose I should go grab my bag. But I'll be right back before Henry can even get here!"

"It's a little late for that," Henry explained as he walked up, hands in his pockets. He pulled his hands from his green jacket's pockets and hugged his family tight. "It's good to see all of you again."

His eyes caught Suzie's and she glanced away. Janyu frowned at that and turned to his wife. "Honey, why don't you go to catch up with Suzie? Henry can help me with our bags, after all."

Mayumi glanced between her husband and son and narrowed her eyes. That meant that Janyu wished to have a conversation without worrying her. It was almost more worrying in and of itself, but she supposed she could give him this much. Besides, she did want to catch up with her daughter some more. "That's a good idea, Dear," she said, patting his cheek softly. "We'll be back in a few minutes."

Henry and Janyu waved them off. "So, how goes the research?" Janyu finally asked first.

Henry sighed and turned back to the baggage claim to watch for his parents' bags. "Better. I'm making some progress," he admitted with a half smile. He looked over at Janyu when he released a surprised scoff. "Really. The Digivice has been acting different, Dad. I've spoken with them."

Janyu turned to Henry and grabbed his arm. "You what?" he gasped. He glanced down, eyes staring further than the ground. "Shibumi theorized that the Digivices could do more than what they displayed. Takato's second generation D-Power was more than enough to showcase his theory held weight. Did the physical components change?" He looked up at his son. Henry nodded and Janyu gasped. "Amazing. Even with the Firewall erected, the Digignomes have a level of influence on human world that I never expected!"

"I was hoping you might have Shibumi's old notes," Henry cut in before his father could spiral into the same kind of excitement Henry's entire family was prone to when learning about rare magic. "He helped me a lot before he passed." The years had finally caught up with the man. Between his coma dragging his mind into the Digital World and the stress that it placed upon him, he had never fully recovered.

"I believe so. I'll mail them to you when I get back home," Janyu said, still reeling from the implications. But to have them confirmed. "Why now?"

Henry stiffened slightly before reaching down and grabbing the first bag. "Who knows?"

Janyu glared at his son. "Why were you so angry with your sister?"

"Much better conversation," Henry grumbled in English.

"Henry..."

Henry sighed. "I think there are Tamers somewhere in the area. Whatever new Digivices they have, they're interacting," he explained calmly. "Suzie ran into one when she was here last, but wouldn't give them up." He looked over at his father. "Please don't press it with her, though. It's something I'd rather keep between us as siblings."

Janyu frowned. More Digimon swirling around his children and grand-children, endangering them. It was never over. "Fine," he growled. "Do Jaarin's children or Tasuke know?"

"No. You really think I'd let any of them be involved in Digimon after everything I went through as a kid?" Henry remarked dryly. He shook his head. "No, Takato and Rika sent him here to keep him safe, and they trusted me with doing that if they didn't make it out. I' not letting him get into any more danger than he can take."

Janyu sighed in relief. "Good. Good." He patted his son's shoulder. "Your mother's bag is coming in."

"Right!" Henry moved over and picked it up. "Now, how about we get the girls and head out of here? Jaarin set up reservations for dinner and Rinchei's going to meet us there."

X X X

Well, looks like the Digi-Chumps finally got together, huh? Einstein's right, Chump Jr. is dumber than the Goggle-Chump and angrier than the Chumpette – eh, don't tell her I said that. Not that I'm scared or nothin', but... Eh, I don't hafta explain myself to youse. Just don't tell her, got it?!

Now, this version of Ol' Pineapple Head is nothin' like the normal one. It's like fire and water, light and dark, up and down. A buncha more of those comparisons, ya hear? Kinda reminds me of eh, me. Hey, I ain't too proud to admit it. I was, uh, kinda a jerk. But he went back to his partner faster than I did, so I can't really fault him, ya know? But unlike him, I'd never willin'ly DeDigivolve, no way! Impmon is already way too adorable for all youse humans; anything else and youse'd all ignore every Digimon for me. I think I can let 'em have one or two humans, at least. 'Cause I'm so gracious.

But that Gethen guy... something about him... rubs me the wrong way, ya know? I know all about bein' greedy but he's somethin' else. I'm Beelzemon, and I'd never hang out with a Chump like Reapmon, you hear? Those guys are jerks, and honestly they ain't all that fun.

Eh, whatever. I'll talk to youse on the next Digimon: Digital Monsters!