Digimon Tamers Zero Two

by MasterCaedus

Tasuke, or Taj, was raised by his 'Uncle' Henry Wong, ever since his parents left when he was very young. In that time, Taj has come to hate his parents and anything related to them. Especially Digimon, the fictional creatures his parents had loved when they were around. But when he gets a real Digimon, Taj must fight Digi-agents of other countries for a chance to find his parents.

36. Where I Want to be:Singular(ity) Luck

AN: Hey guys. I'm going to be out of town for a few weeks, so I decided to push through and get this chapter ready after some interviews. It's a bit easier since we're getting to a lot of the wild, weird stuff I've been excited to get to since chapter one. Some of the fights I'm most excited for should be coming up soon after this chapter – Bio-Merging is going to be a fun event to get to.

To jacquelinemueller53: After getting Champion and Ultimate dead last in the group, they deserve to be first in something, right?

To smartalec121: I went through a few different ideas early on for how they would escape Lucemon. Takato and Rika were an early idea, because seeing all three of their Bio—Merged forms together again is always fun. But I realized there were some issues with travel time, and with having them fight Lucemon FM side by side with Beelzemon. One issue being that I'm fairly certain Gallantmon CM, Sakuyamon MM, Beelzemon, and Rapidmon(Gold) together could probably take Lucemon FM and then the story is over.

To Old Style: I get being busy, definitely. It's good to be busy, though, right? Tiring, but good. Im glad the last chapters were worth the wait. I agree about Shaujinmon and Sagomon being a little underwhelming. And... well, you'll see. But I liked the idea of squabbling brothers... and not having to put too much brain power into semi-memorizing two Digimon's attacks.

To Guest: Reapmon is interesting. He'll be a big part of the chapter after this one, both in combat and out. I'm excited to start writing that as soon as I get back.

Episode 36: Where I Want to be:Singular(ity) Luck

Henry's mind came back to him when the unmistakable feeling of dog kisses on his face broke through his sleep. He groaned and brought his hand up to the feeling, petting Momentai, who began to whine and nuzzle into his owner. "It's okay, Momentai," Henry grumbled. He slid his eyes open and slowly pushed up to a sitting position. The dog yapped and ran around to sit in his lap, whining and nuzzling to find a comfy spot. "Good boy."

Henry pet the dog and groaned. "Ugh, this used to be a lot easier. And hurt less," he muttered with a grimace. He scratched at Momentai's ears again for a moment, then looked around. "Where's my Digivice? I know I had it when the Data Stream hit, so... ah, there it... is..." He stared at the cell phone with a brown cross on the back. He reached out and picked it up, glaring at the 3D. "Well, it's someone's Digivice, even if it isn't mine." He gripped it tight in one hand and grabbed Momentai with the other before pushing up to his feet. He'd really wanted to see if his Digivice could lock on to Terriermon. With his partner at his side, he could handle anything.

He looked around at the large clearing in a forest he'd landed in, circling a big, crystal clear lake. He thought about diving in to see if it went anywhere, but realized that wasn't an option with a dog that couldn't force himself to realize the water was breathable. He lifted the Digivice up and opened into it, accessing the phone and heading into the phone. He grimaced and moved right past 'mom,' knowing that talking to any of the other parents and guardians wasn't something he wanted to deal with until he had all the kids together again. Instead, he moved down to Tasuke's contact and hit call. It didn't even ring once before going to voicemail.

Henry's blood went cold, but calmed himself down by noting that it still went to the voicemail at all. That had to mean the Digivice was working, even after – Henry frowned. Even after Tasuke had become that BlackGallantmon thing with his partner. He had to still be alive. After a few more moments of thought, he moved back into the contact list to find his niece's number.

He paused when Momentai began to growl at the trees nearby, pocketing the Digivice and holding his dog tight. His feet slowly, carefully edged backwards one after the other. Loud grunting and roaring began to come out of the trees. "Oh, no..." Henry turned on his heel and sprinted away at full speed. Momentai continued to growl, and Henry stuffed his sleeve in the dog's mouth to keep him quiet. The grunting and growls got closer and closer.

And then it went silent.

Henry slid to a stop and looked around with wide, worried eyes. Why do I get the feeling this is Terriermon's fault? He wondered inwardly as the trees shook. A moment later, he realized why he felt like that because a huge, white gorilla with a cannon for an arm jumped out of the tree. And then another. And another. "Oh. Gorillamon," he muttered nervously. "A whole troop."

The Gorillamon roared, one of them pounding his chest to signal the others should move closer. "And this is the part in the show where you'd show up, Terriermon!"

Henry looked up at the trees. Nope. No Terriermon.

X X X

My teeth were chattering and my fingers blue, even with the furnace inside BG providing me some heat in the blizzard. The world was slowly tunneling away to nothingness, and I could barely hear or feel anything just beside me. The howling of the blizzard was even gone, and I could only every so often hear BG's shouts for me to stay awake at my side. My boots crunched through snow-like data, though by now I was dragging through it more than walking.

I couldn't feel it when I fell down, but I just barely remember BG's shouting in my ears. He said we were close, I think. He definitely told me to get up and nudged me with his nose, sending out a stream of smoke and heat to try and keep me from freezing. But it was too late. Even when he curled up beside me to share heat and protect me from the wind, it wasn't enough. I was unconscious a few moments later.

When I woke up, though, I was warm and the snow was gone. And not just warmer – more like stuck in a jungle hot. I was clearly inside, with a large, metal-like roof with dim light created by moving energy in tubes above. I pushed up and tore my jacket off, panting and caked in sweat from the intense heat. I wrapped my jacket around my waist and reached for my duffel to get a water, only to groan as I remembered that I had dropped it forever ago to try and get to Henry. Jeez, BG was going to hate that we lost all that food.

I frowned and looked around. "BG?" I asked, realizing suddenly that he wasn't there. I flinched and began to panic. "BG!"

I reached into my pocket and pulled out my Digivice, rushing off to follow the compass as it spun around. I charged down the hallways, following the energy traveling down large, glowing wires. I burst through a doorway and into a large room filled with glowing spheres of energy. I glanced towards one and slid to a stop despite how worried I was. The massive, green sphere of energy was labeled. A green, circular image inscribed with circles was placed beneath the name "Lilithmon."

I stepped towards the sphere, seeing faint images flashing about on its surface. I turned to the left and saw an empty space, but with another label for "Beelzemon." I clenched my fists. These things, whatever they were, had to do with the Demon Lords. Which meant... I sprinted down the line, past four more glowing spheres, to stop at one inscribed with a very simple, red circle with a shape inside. Lucemon.

I stared at the glowing sphere, realizing I was glaring at something that could tell me about Gethen. A weakness, or some strategy we could use. Realizing I was wasting my time I could be using to find BG, I decided I should just grab it and run.

When my hands touched the sphere, it was like I was drowning under powerful waves that blasted my mind in every direction. Images flashed about and I struggled just to make sense of it. Golden, burning wings; an ancient life as guardian of the Digital World; a Susanoomon clashing with evil; a large, powerful Digimon with wood making up half his body.

I hit the ground and let out a pained scream as my brain struggled against a flow that made no sense. Paradoxes began to hit loops in my brain as the information that had burned down my nerves and into my brain began to be reordered into something resembling information. And then, for a brief moment, I saw these flashes all in order.

In an ancient Digital World, he policed the Digimon. He fell when something whispered in his mind, stoking his pride into, well, Pride. Arrogance. He's fighting against ten ancient Digimon, and then he dies as he kills them.

In a modern Digital World, he is enslaved by Bagramon, forced to do that idiot's bidding. Beelzemon is different, now. Something has changed. He's not sure what. Thankfully, he's able to hold himself back somewhat. That idiotic Shoutmon jogresses with another Digimon and he's finally free.

In an ancient Digital World, he and the other Demon Lords are waging war against the Holy Knights of the Digimon. And... something else. Another Knight I don't recognize, with gleaming, white and red armor. They're all different, though. Lucemon has gleaming, golden wings. Beelzemon is back to normal, ready to fight and destroy and feed his Gluttonous attitudes. And now, with the X-Antibody that is overcharging his entire being, activating his Digital Hazard to its fullest, he believes he is immortal.. He's cut down and his plan eventually foiled by Jesmon.

In a modern Digital World, he sleeps in the Dark Area, his ancient defeats weighing on his mind. He's enraged. But no, he realized, this was better. He felt something echo, something so powerful. An active Hazard. His had been sealed away when Jesmon had killed him last, trapping him once more in the Dark Area. It was in a different Universe than him, which could cause some trouble, trapped as he was. So he hatched a plan, gleefully realizing he could succeed or fail in this world and he would get what he wanted. And now, he didn't have to share with the others. He whispered, as that thing had whispered to him so long ago. The other Singularity, Cherubimon, can't help herself. She turns against her friends, corrupting the remains of the Ancient Guardians that had defeated Lucemon so long ago. Ophanimon succeeds in rescuing a few though and it didn't take long for them to defeat Cherubimon. He whispered next in the ears of Royal Knights, convincing the fools to follow him. The death of their King at Omnimon's hand is an event they still cannot recover from. And yet, even still, those human children of Ophanimon manage to defeat him. He is killed and forces half of his being to detonate, eradicating the connection between that Digital World and the Dark Area so he can escape at his leisure. He dies excited.

In a modern Digital World, Lucemon escapes from the Digital World. A decade later, he returns. He searches now for a chance to reclaim that ancient Dragon, the Hazard with which he could devour an entire universe. Perhaps even all of them. And all it requires now is for the human he dragged to the Digital World -

The world cleared. "DAD!" I shouted. The call echoed down the hallways, bouncing around through the emptiness. I tried to push up until another spasm shook me to the ground and I screamed. "BG, help!"

I could just hear the noise of something coming closer. "BG!" I cried out to it, hoping it was him.

Instead, a metal wire wrapped around my body and arms, lifting me unceremoniously off the ground. A simple robot with a glaring red eye stared unfeelingly at me, then turned on its large, spider like limbs and began to march through the halls. I struggled uselessly against the limb that had me, only for another burst of electricity to freeze me out again.

Eventually, we got into a much larger room and the thing dropped me on the ground. "Hm. So this is what happens when an organic psyche attempts to understand thousands of cycles of non-linear temporal history. Interesting," a robotic voice remarked. "The shocks should subside soon."

I grimaced and pushed myself up to look at the new voice. A Datamon looked me over, eyes glowing. After a moment, the glowing ended. "Yes, you'll be fine, now." He turned away and began focusing his wire-like arms on -

"Impmon!" I shouted, surging up and charging the tiny creature, floating and unconscious in front of me.

The wiry arm of the drone wrapped around me the moment I started charging and slammed me into the ground. "Please stop resisting, it's such a waste of time," Datamon said, still focused on Impmon's form.

"Taj! Pyro Grenade!" A green sphere of energy flew towards us and exploded, immediately sending the drone to the ground without a large chunk of its head. Data began to swirl around, drifting away from the thing as it began to disintegrate fully.

Datamon finally turned around. "Well, there is an hour of work, just wasted," he grumbled as BG rushed up to me and threw himself between me and Datamon. Datamon, though much smaller than my partner, was an Ultimate. And I wasn't going to let him fight alone. I pushed up to my feet and grabbed a card, forcing it to become my Anti-Matrix card.

"Agh! Please, do not do that!" Datamon shouted, throwing his wiry hands up. "I implore you, I mean no harm at this moment! If you decide to reach the Ultimate level, you will not fit! You will only endanger Singularity Beelzemon and yourselves as I try to heal him in this scanner."

I stopped before I dragged the card through my Digivice, examining the little Digimon floating in a dim, blue energy. "... Is that why his sphere was missing?"

"You believe him?" BG asked without turning his eyes from Datamon.

I bit my cheek and grumbled for a second before finally settling on an answer. "We don't really have a choice. He's not wrong that if you Digivolve it won't work. You're almost thirty feet tall when you're BlackWarGrowlmon, and the roof here is maybe twenty feet up."

"Rather accurate estimation, Singularity Tasuke."

I paused and turned to him. "There's that word again. Singularity. What does it mean, and why are you calling us that?" I looked over my shoulder down the hallway. "That library or whatever it was had information on Lucemon. Some of it was from the shows, but... off. Different. Is he a 'Singularity,' too?"

Datamon's sharp teeth glinted in the dim light. "My entire existence is dedicated to the acquisition and storage of information. Unique information that deals with the entirety of the Digital World's history from its inception to its inevitable end." He turned his small, pill like body around. "I do not just share this information freely, you understand. If it were possible, I would remove the information you have already seen."

"But it isn't."

"No. However, gaining new knowledge is possible, though only via a... I believe the terminology some humans use is 'quid pro quo.'" Datamon tented his wiry fingers. "So the question becomes not what are you hoping to find, rather what are you willing to give in return?"

"You can scan me," BG supplied without hesitation. He looked up at me and nodded at my worried look, trying to tell me it was alright.

"A simple start. Not worth what you are asking after," Datamon explained. "I have had opportunities to scan many Digimon Singularities since I began my library. Never have I had a chance to scan a human." His eye flickered towards me.

"What?" I asked, incredulous. "I didn't even say you could actually scan BG, and now you want both of us?"

"Indeed. And after your earlier success, it would be a most interesting opportunity indeed." Datamon turned back to Impmon. "Of course, Singularity Lucemon is sending one of his henchmen after you. I doubt we have much time for you to ponder this decision."

I glared at him. "Is this what I sound like when I'm trying to be the smartest person in the room?" I asked dryly.

Answering my rhetorical question, BG said, "A little."

"Not meant to be answered, Buddy," I grumbled. I kept hold of the Anti-Matrix card but pulled it away from my Digivice.

I glared at Datamon and weighed my options. "Two things. You'll tell me where our friends are, too. It looks like you know pretty much everything, so I bet you can find them. And you only get me. Just me." I finally said. "BG's my friend, and I don't trust you with him. The Datamon in the show -"

"Believe me, I have no interest in cloning either of you. Etemon's already dead, and I have changed my mission," Datamon explained. He waved off my concerns as something about that caused my brain to itch. "Which we can talk about once this scan is completed. I accept your offer."

"But -"

"After," Datamon interjected. He looked over at Impmon. "Singularity Beelzemon is finished healing; we can begin now." He typed with his wiry fingers and Impmon floated to the ground. At nearly the same time, a glowing surface appeared in the air before me. "This is a contract. I have inscribed my Digital Signature into it already. Inscribe yours and we shall be forced to follow through on pain of Deletion."

"Taj..."

"It's the only way to find them, Boy," I muttered. I reached out to the contract. "Uh... how do I sign this?"

X X X

"Jeez, Dorumon, there are so many Digimon around here," May said. She waved at a small gaggle of In-Training Digimon. They cried out in surprise and turned around, bouncing as quickly as their tiny bodies could carry them towards the city. May grimaced at their childish screams.

"A human! A human!"

"Guardromon was telling the truth!"

May sighed. "Oof. I hope that the guys in the city are open to talking to us despite all the scared kids."

"Hey, they let all these little Digimon hang around. Can't be worse than anyone else we've dealt with. Besides, it's Primary City! Just show 'em your Digivice and that Guardromon and MarineAngemon should understand, right?"

"KayKay, you've convinced me," May said. She reached over and scratched her partner behind the ears, earning a contented sigh for her efforts. "How did I get so lucky with my partner?"

"Someone has to make up for Dummy getting Jerkmon!" Dorumon explained jokingly.

May chuckled at her partner, then put a hand on her chin. "You know, since we ended up in the location that I wanted to go, I wonder if whatever it is that made all those Data Streams scanned where we wanted to go."

"Why does that matter?" Dorumon asked.

"Because it means we can guess where Davis and Taj went," May explained. She patted her backpack. "I still have the general areas where Taj's parents were so we can find Davis. And if we can get back to the place we were attacked, Taj shouldn't be far off. Assuming my guess is right, I mean."

She pumped her fist. "KayKay, Dorumon, let's hurry! I'm getting bored!" She took off running, her partner at her side.

They were still some distance from the city when it happened. A huge, pink beam of energy appeared in their path and vanished a moment later, depositing something way worse. A big, green turtle monster. One of Lucemon's goons. "Digi-Modify!"

"Ah, no you don't!" the demon snarled, twirling his staff and firing a blast at her. Dorumon yelped and tackled May out of the way. Dirt exploded upward, crystallized into stray data that drifted into the air and vanished. Dorumon dragged her up to her feet and the pair began to run in erratic zig-zag motions, hoping to stay a step ahead of the blasts that kept May from standing still and activating Matrix-Warp Digivolution for Dorumon.

"Stay still, you little pests!" Shaujinmon snarled as he fired again, trying to blast the ground out from under them. He twirled his staff and chased after them instead, realizing he was pulling his punches too much with his staff. "Fine, I'll come and get you instead!"

"AAAAAGH!" May and Dorumon screamed, rushing past sparse trees and trampling flowers into data. Still, Shaujinmon kept gaining and gaining. He reached out with a long claw, grinning as he did. His fingers scrapped Dorumon's tail and began to wrap around it.

"Kahuna Waves!"

"Destruction Grenade!"

The improbably partnership of glowing, pink hearts and cartoonish missiles crashed into Shaujinmon's back, sending him stumbling over Dorumon and May and giving them time to breathe. "I would request you leave this place, Shaujinmon. I made it very clear you were not welcome back after you and your brother tried to Load Agumon."

Shaujinmon turned and glared at the newcomers, spinning his staff. "Guardromon. MarineAngemon. I'll leave as soon as I have what I came for." He moved his staff in front of May before she could activate her cards. "I promise."

"And you know that anyone in this area is under our protection. Even... My word! A human!"

MarineAngemon suddenly began fluttering around, excited by the prospect.

Shaujinmon glared at the two of them, a sneer coming to his beak. "Then I'll just have to leave this area," he growled. He turned and leaped towards his prey, reaching out to grab hold of them.

"I said no! Destruction Grenade!" Another explosion crashed into Shaujinmon's side, followed by the boxy, rust covered Guardromon himself. May and Dorumon scrambled away as quickly as they could manage, ignoring the loud clashing of Digimon behind them.

"Ready, Dorumon?"

"Make me big!"

"Digi-Modify! Matrix Digivolution, activate!" May exclaimed. She activated the card on screen.

"Dorumon Matrix-Warp Digivolve to...!" She exploded out of the Digi-Egg, wings spread wide. "DoruGreymon!"

Shaujinmon looked over his shoulder and snarled. "Damn it!" He reached down and lifted Guardromon, tossing him towards DoruGreymon.

"I've got ya!" DoruGreymon shouted, flapping her wings once and preparing to wrap her claws around Guardromon.

"No need, Miss, I can handle myself!" Rocket boosters erupted and he began to slow his own movement, righting himself. "You keep going on ahead!"

May raised her Digivice and aimed it at Shaujinmon. "Shaujinmon, a virus type demon man Digimon. Usually calm and collected, it was banished from the Digital World's heaven. It lost a DigiCore on its necklace and was corrupted to serve evil, utilizing its Kouyoujou staff to destroy its enemies. Up close it uses Crescent Moon Slash to carve his enemies apart with his staff's moon blade, then creates water bullets with Whirlpool Formation to wear down enemies that try to run away."

"KayKay, then step one. Digi-Modify! Agumon Expert, activate!" She tapped the screen, making her partner's type change to Vaccine.

"Hey, Uglymon, too slow!" DoruGreymon lashed out with her tail, catching Shaujinmon's staff when he turned to block. His back was peppered with glowing hearts as he was tossed over MarineAngemon. He flipped midair and slashed back at DoruGreymon, deflecting her tail from its path to skewer his chest.

"Crescent Moon Slash!"

"Bloody Tower!" The glowing tail of DoruGreymon crashed into the burning edge of Shaujinmon's staff, sending out sparks of deadly energy. But the type-advantage was just enough for DoruGreymon to gain the edge, breaking through his guard. He threw himself to the side, barely avoiding being skewered again. Seeing how things were going, he made the sound decision to turn and run.

"I suppose we'll have to finish this later!" Shaujinmon snarled over his shoulder.

"No you don't!" May shouted, already moving to her next card. "Digi-Modify! Hyperspeed, activate!"

DoruGreymon became a blur, vanishing and reappearing in front of Shaujinmon as he pulled out a small crystal. May's eyes widened. "Guardromon, MarineAngemon, get that crystal!"

Guardromon's rockets blasted towards the duel. "A Data Transmission Node! Excellent eye, Miss!"

DoruGreymon rapidly lashed out with her coiled tail, the hyperspeed movements going faster than Shaujinmon's defense could keep up. Still, he tried his best. "Hydro Tornado!" He spun the staff around in his remaining hand, summoning an explosion of water from the ground up towards DoruGreymon. Her long body moved too fast, coiling around the spout, but giving Shaujinmon enough time to get his next attack out. "Crescent Moon Slash!" The blade came up and carved through DoruGreymon's shoulder. She cried out in pain, but still lashed out with her tail. The spear tip was buried in Shaujinmon's arm before he could dodge and he jerked back in pain. His Node flew through the air, lost in the sudden motion.

"Got it!" Guardromon promised as he rocketed in, crashing into the ground and leaving a trench in the ground as he tried to get his huge girth underneath the Node before it would hit the ground and shatter. His outstretched hand ground slowly to a halt inches away from the crystal.

Thankfully, MarineAngemon's tiny body swooped in to grab it just before it hit the ground. "Ah, thank you, MarineAngemon! I thought I had enough momentum to handle this..."

"Dammit! Give that back!" Shaujinmon snapped. "Hydro Descent!" He slammed his staff into the ground, causing the earth to shatter and huge waves to crest towards them. DoruGreymon cried out in fear and bolted for May, flapping her wings hard to reach her, even with the Hyperspeed's effect. Her claws wrapped around May's shoulders and she pulled up, flying high to avoid the waves. She turned around and glared angrily at Shaujinmon, who was making his way towards Guardromon, who was stuck on his back and rusting further, and MarineAngemon, who as an aquatic Digimon seemed no worse the wear.

"Let's finish this while he's distracted," May said. She looked up at DoruGreymon. "Ready?" DoruGreymon nodded in agreement. "Digi-Modify! Chaosdromon, activate!"

Huge cannons began to form around wireframe on DoruGreymon's back, aimed directly down at Shaujinmon. Energy began to gather in the barrels. "Hyper Mugen Cannon!"

MarineAngemon puffed up its wings. "Pretty Heart!" MarineAngemon danced around, carefully holding the node to its chest, and grinned. There was a slight, heart shaped energy that hit Shaujinmon. The pink energy seemed to infect him, creating a visible, electrical effect on his body as he was paralyzed.

The yellow energy reached its crest and shot from the cannons on DoruGreymon's back, the recoil sending her and May rocketing backwards through the air. Shaujinmon could barely look up, realizing what he'd walked into, before the energy collided with him. He screamed in pain as the energy burned through his body, slowly burning him down to mere data that floated away on the wind.

DoruGreymon and May watched the data fly away for a moment, then turned and flew down to Guardromon and MarineAngemon. After letting May down onto the ground, there was a bright flash and Dorumon landed beside her. "Thanks for the help there," May said. She leaned down to grab Guardromon's hand and pulled back as hard as she could, slipping and sliding as she slowly but surely helped him up to a standing position. When he finally crashed onto his feet, shaking the ground, May took a step back and wiped her forehead. "We'd have been in real trouble without you guys."

"Yes, well, he was our problem child to deal with," Guardromon admitted, sounding slightly embarrassed. He looked over at MarineAngemon"And I suppose he will be again. We'll have to do better this time, won't we Chumley?"

MarineAngemon gave him a look before floating over to May, depositing the Node in her hands. "Er, thanks," May said, earning a smile from MarineAngemon. "Uh, I was actually looking for you two. You guys know Henry Wong, right? He's my uncle."

The Digimon's eyes widened. "Ah! Mayumi, yes? He showed us some nice photographs of you when we last saw him. Tell me, how is Einstein?"

"That's why we're here," Dorumon piped up. "We're trying to find him and Tasuke and our other friends, and we don't know how to use this Node thingy."

MarineAngemon gasped and flew over, grabbing May's hand and pulling her towards the city. "I agree, MarineAngemon!" Guardromon exclaimed. "We should help them learn how to use the device. I would love to hear from Henry how Kazu is doing, as well!"

X X X

No, Henry thought, that is definitely not Terriermon. Sagomon, actually, if he remembered right from his time with Lucemon.

The Ultimate Digimon hit the ground inside the circle of Gorillamon, grinning evilly. "I'm afraid this one is already taken. I recommend you run away."

The Gorillamon roared and snarled, charging up their cannons to destroy this newcomer. "I prefer it this way, really," Sagomon replied as he slammed his staff into the ground. "Waterfall Formation!" The ground exploded, sending water flowing in every direction around him and Henry. Momentai barked in terror at the sudden waves that crushed the Gorillamon, deleting one of the weaker ones. Sagomon grinned and Loaded the data as he began to move forward towards the others, injured and glitching from the damage. "And now for the next course."

"No! Leave them -" Henry began, but it was too late. The crescent blade gleefully slashed down, carving the Gorillamon apart so their Data could be absorbed by Sagomon.

Sagomon turned around to Henry, chuckling. "What did they think would happen? Three mediocre Champions versus an Ultimate?"

"You killed them!" Henry snapped angrily.

Sagomon raised an eyebrow. "Before they could kill you or your... dog."

Henry grit his teeth. That wasn't wrong, but still... "You didn't have to Load them, at least. They might be better -"

"Oh, this is getting annoying," Sagomon growled. He grabbed Henry with his claw. "Time to find that boy and head back." He tensed his legs and leaped upward, bouncing between trees and letting the sudden movements cut off Henry's complaints. "That's better."

The jumping continued for a while as Sagomon looked into a crystalline Node. "The boy should be close, otherwise I wouldn't have arrived here. So –"

"Thousand Spells!" Paper talismans appeared all around them, and Sagomon gasped and tossed Henry backwards. Once he was clear, the talismans exploded. Sagomon flew upward, trailing smoke, while Henry tumbled to the ground.

"Ha-yup!" Henry felt something hit his back and grab his shirt. Henry felt his descent slightly slow. "Ach! Jeez, Henry, you've been packing on the pounds lately, haven't you?"

Henry looked up and grinned. "T-Terriermon?"

"Who were you expecting, a – is that a dog?"

Momentai yipped joyfully.

"Talisman Spell" A yin-yang shield appeared below Henry, and a dome grew around them.

"Finally, I don't have to carry your big butt," Terriermon muttered, dropping Henry completely in a heap on the shield. Terriermon landed beside him, stretching his back. "Oof, I think I pulled something."

Henry pushed himself up from crushing his dog. Momentai ran up to Terriermon circled him, sniffing him to figure out what he was. "Okay, Momentai, maybe give him some space," Henry finally sighed when Terriermon began using his huge ears to push the dog away.

"Hey that's my line! And you made it into a dog's name!? Do you know how confusing that'll make things?" Terriermon snapped. He jumped, turning around and revealing the green-ringed D-Arc in his hands. His angry face turned into a big grin. "Aw, I knew you had to miss me."

"No, but I will admit his annoying barking reminds me of someone," Henry remarked dryly.

"Ha ha. Leave the jokes to the professionals, Henry," Terriermon remarked. He jumped up to Henry's shoulder and held the Digivice out. "Now, let's start in on this. That loser Digimon who grabbed you is getting away."

Henry smiled sidelong at his partner. He took the Digivice and his eyes widened, surprised by a small deck container on the strap. He pulled it open and took a card out. Tears began to well up in his eyes as he stared at the top card. "Uh, Momentai – no, stop barking, not you! Henry, we have stuff to deal with before the tearful reunions, you know?"

Henry took a deep breath. "I know, Terriermon... It's just this is... a nice gift," he said. He showed the Digi-Egg of Destiny card to Terriermon.

Terriermon grinned. "Well, taking it slow would've been boring."

Henry held his Digivice in front of him. "Thanks, Tasuke," he said to the card. He took another breath and dragged the card through the Digivice. "Digi-Modify! Digi-Egg of Destiny, Energize!"

Terriermon leaped off Henry's shoulder, the man and his dog watching the entire time. "Terriermon, Armor Digivolve to..." A golden egg inscribed with something similar to an infinity symbol appeared around Terriermon, burning him down to wireframe and restructuring him. He grew much larger, golden armor appearing around his new, poodle like body. Massive ears and jets grew, rocket launchers and laser generators. His armor, usually green, became gold and red with that same infinity symbol on it. When the egg exploded and the Yin-Yang symbol below them shattered, he moved even faster than he did when Henry used a blue card. "Rapidmon!" He grabbed Henry and Momentai. "Now this is more like it, Henry! Give me a second, let's see how far this guy can get before I can catch up to him!"

"Rapidmon..." Henry warned disapprovingly.

Rapidmon sighed. "Yeesh, Henry, you want to blame me for trying out the new goods? I see you haven't learned to Momentai -" The dog barked. "Ach! No, not you!"

"This is going to be a pattern," Henry remarked as he reached over to Rapidmon's other arm to grab Momentai.

"Never mind, you named the dog to annoy me, didn't you?"

"It would be good payback, if I had named him."

"Henry..."

"Momentai, Terriermon," Henry remarked, and the dog barked again at the sound of his name.

"Ach... Hey, guys, let us handle this one! We'll be back before you can say Mo -er, We'll be back fast!" Rapidmon shouted. The energy in his body built for a moment, and he rocketed off, following blur that was Sagomon. It took maybe a second to overtake him, Rapidmon spinning about with ease to get in front of him. "Hey now, too slow, Ugly!"

Sagomon growled and glanced down at the shattered Node in his claw. Then, he turned and tried to run again. "This is kind of fun," Rapidmon said as they appeared in front of Sagomon again. He turned and ran, only for Rapidmon to do it yet again.

Henry grumbled and managed to pull himself up onto Rapidmon's shoulder with Momentai. "Rapidmon, he's working for Lucemon to collect a bunch of stuff to... I'm not really sure. Destroy the world, probably?"

"Yeesh, way to bury the lede," Rapidmon muttered. "Okay, I'll try to bring him in alive, but he doesn't look the kind of guy to squawk, even with that beak." Rapidmon took a breath and zoomed again, pulling out his missile revolver from his back. "Rapid Fire!" Rockets flew from the revolver and his hands, spiraling towards Sagomon. The xplosions burst around him before he could respond, vaporizing trees and sending him in a smoking heap to the ground. "Ha, bullseye!" Rapidmon shot after Sagomon a second later, appearing where would land a second before Sagomon himself crashed into the glade.

"Okay, Ugly, tell us everything. I know what you're thinking, did he fire three missiles, or six? I guess you just gotta ask yourself, do you feel lucky, Punk? Well, do you?" Rapidmon asked as he aimed the missile revolver down at Sagomon.

The glitching Sagomon looked up, a look of pained confusion on his face. "...What?"

"Aw, Henry, how come the bad guys never appreciate the classics?" Rapidmon asked, glancing sidelong at Henry on his shoulder.

Sagomon grabbed his staff as another glitch ran across his body, causing him to cry out in pain. "I'll... never talk. M-master Lucemon i-is far worse than you. S-so send me b-back to Primary Villa-ach – Village."

"Wow, and I thought Rika and Renamon were crazy..." Rapidmon stated in disbelief. "What do we do, Henry?"

"That's our area of expertise." Rapidmon swiveled, letting him and Henry see Taomon appear with Rika in her arms. She let Rika to the ground and bowed her head. "Hello, Henry."

"Taomon. Rika." Rapidmon lowered to the ground and let Henry slide off his shoulder. Henry rushed over and hugged his old friend with the arm not holding Momentai. "I've missed you guys so much."

"Okay, okay, enough with the mushy stuff," Rika protested, shoving him back. "Takato'll be happy to get all emotional, and – you brought your dog?"

Momentai yapped and jumped into Rika's arms, aggressively licking her face. She tried to get him to stop, eventually just grabbing him and holding him at arm's length. "Henry..."

"Hey, you're the one who looked at him," Henry remarked before taking his dog. He turned up to Taomon, who was barely letting an amused smirk pass through. "So, what are you going to do?"

Taomon looked over at Sagomon. She pulled out her brush and spoke with a low, threatening tone that so far only he had only ever heard Rika and Renamon manage, "I'll simply have to make a few... adjustments."

"What? No – NO!" Sagomon exclaimed as Taomon got closer, the brush glowing in her hands.

Henry and Rapdimon both made worried noises and turned away. "So what exactly is she doing?" Henry asked Rika, who was just standing there watching with her arms crossed.

"Overwriting his code. He'll probably break after we get what we need, but he'll reform in Primary City, so it isn't a big deal," Rika remarked callously. "Taomon – go fast, we need to check in with Takato and that kid -"

Kid... "One of the kids is with you?" Henry asked, excited. He put his Digivice on his belt and pulled out Davis'. "Is he traveling with a Huckmon?"

Rika's eyes widened and her hands fell to her side. "So... he really does know Tasuke."

Henry nodded. "He's here. Somewhere," Henry assured her. He glanced over her shoulder, seeing Takato, Guilmon, Davis, Huckmon struggling through the underbrush while Calumon floated nearby, laughing his head off. "He just happens to run as late as your husband."

Rika followed his gaze and sighed. "Thirty years of this. I swear..."

"H-Hey, Rika! Was that really – HENRY!" Takato tripped over a root as he tried to rush over, grumbling as he slammed face first into the ground. "Ow..."

Henry laughed and put down Momentai, who rushed over before being waylaid by Calumon, who began chasing him and singing about puppies. Henry snorted again and walked over to Takato, reaching down to help pull him to his feet and into a hug. "It's been too long, Takato."

"Jeez, this is more emotion than I got in my reunion," Rapidmon grumbled jokingly.

Henry pushed off his friend and turned to glare at his partner. "Rapidmon..."

"Sheesh, Momentai!" Momentai turned at the sound of his name and rushed over, jumping excitedly up at Rapidmon's floating foor " – er, Henry, couldn't you have named the dog something else? This is cruel and unusual, I tell ya!"

Takato chuckled. "It's pretty funny," he agreed.

"Well, Tasuke picked the name," Henry admitted, causing everyone to fall quiet. Henry and his old friends looked at one another, unspoken... something traveling between them.

"Speaking of," Huckmon remarked, breaking the tension. He and his partner moved up. "Have you found our Digivice? We need to get in contact with him."

"I already tried that," Henry said. He held the Digivice out. "It goes to voicemail, so something must have happened. I haven't had time to try Mayumi, yet."

"Then I'll call her myself," Davis said. He reached out and took the Digivice and rushed off to make it a private call.

"He's dating my niece," Henry explained to Takato and Rika's looks.

"Henry! I'm so happy you're here!" Guilmon cocked his head to the side and frowned. "But I ate all that boy's food, so did you bring me bread?" Guilmon finally asked, stomach rumbling loudly.

X X X

"Is this almost over?" I wondered when the scanner sent another uncomfortable jolt of electricity through my toes.

"Eh, yeah, I gotta say, I'm getting' bored just sittin' here," Impmon remarked. He pushed off from the terminal he was leaning against. "And it won't be too long 'fore this kid's Digimon goes stir crazy."

He wasn't wrong. BG had started this process alert, but that became napping the moment Impmon woke up. By now he was chewing the corners of one terminal, much to Datamon's increasing annoyance. And when he had sent drones in to stop BG, it always ended with broken drones. "We should be finished in a few moments. If you could please stop destroying my laboratory, that would be appreciated, Hazard."

"Then go faster," BG grumbled. He resumed chewing.

Datamon glared at him for a moment as the scan continued, then turned to glare at me. "I feel I must blame you for his actions." I shrugged from inside the scanner. "Fine... The scan will conclude in six, five, four, three, two... Scan complete."

The light around me vanished and I stepped out of the scanner. "So, Doc, what's wrong with me?" I joked as I crossed my arms.

"Hopefully I can determine that when I sift through this information," Datamon replied, completely serious. He examined the information on the screen for another moment before shutting it off and turning to me. "For now, I believe I owe you information equal to what I have gained. Singularities, such as Lucemon, are connected to the very core of the Digital World. Indeed, they form pillars that ensure its continued existence." Datamon paused. "How much do any of you know of Quantum Mechanics, Parallel Reality Theory, and Super-Quantum Computing?"

"Uh... I have a very loose grasp of some parts of the basic idea of the first two..." I said, raising my hands once the crickets got too loud.

Datamon sighed, closing his eyes and shaking his body in disappointment. "Well, I suppose I shall have to significantly simplify some terms for you, but it cannot be avoided."

He opened his eyes. "The Digimon were first created in your world, nearly fifty years ago, by a team of researchers. They also created something known as the D-Reaper to clean up Digimon that grew too large for storage on the system or that grew beyond their parameters. One of the researchers simultaneously created a miracle. No longer were Digimon simply a learning Artificial Intelligence, each Digimon became a true intelligence of its own. Mentally there is likely little difference between a human and a Digimon by this point other than upbringing. This caused the D-Reaper to attempt to wipe out the Digital World.

"The Digital World's operating system, Yggdrasil, was affected by the Miracle as well and became a target of the D-Reaper. It determined that the only way to ensure the survival of the Digital World was to copy human brains, upgrading into a Super-Quantum computer, connecting to similar servers across multiple realities."

"Wait. Wait, wait, wait. The Digital World isn't just another dimension, it's a multi-universal dimension?" I asked. I shook my head. "But... does that mean what I saw in the Lucemon Sphere – the shows – they're real?"

"Some, though there are a good many instances of poetic license, I believe your kind calls it," Datamon explained, a little huffed about being interrupted. "For instance, Etemon was an idiot, I am clearly not deleted – merely 'e-mailed' across servers -, and things rarely went perfectly for the Digidestined. And that fusion show... well, the less said about those inaccuracies the better. They wanted a children's show for selling toys, not a warzone."

He moved tot he side. "Singularities such as yourself were not important in human history until the advent of the Digital World. These human worlds had nearly identical histories until this moment of separation. A baker in one world did not exist in any others and was quickly forgotten after a few generations. A pebble in an ocean. But with the advent of the first Singularities – the Seven Demon Lords, the Olympos XII, the Thirteen Royal Knights, the Sovereigns, and the Great Dragons... they became much more important. They were all there at the split and went their separate ways."

"Thirteen – There are only twelve Royal Knights."

"Ah, of course. The shows in your Timeline do not match all events of the Digital World so far. Your father is a Singularity, Matsuki. He created one of the Royal Knights."

"W- How? You said they were present at the start of the Digital World! Takato isn't even fifty years old!"

"Hence why the term Singularity gains a second meaning. As far as my studies have found, Singularites are similar to Black Holes in your world. They distort time and space around themselves. When a Singularity Digimon dies, they can appear in any of the Digital Worlds at any time. A Digimon created a hundred human years from now in one universe might face its final death at the start of the Digital World. Lucemon was born in the ancient Digital World, but his timeline has bent and twisted around various points back and forth between past and future. Sometimes they merge into a single entity, as is the case for Imperialdramon Paladin Mode and Magnamon when partnered to Daisuke, and they may split apart at any moment. Once your father created both Gallantmon and Megidramon. But Megidramon has vanished since. Perhaps he is separated from Gallantmon, now. A new Hazard." His gaze locked on BG. "The ancient whispers say that ChaosGallantmon and Megidramon are superimposed, to see one or the other determined by your own fears. Odd then -"

"Wait a sec there, Pillboy. Is that why Lucemon said the ol' me woulda ate me for breakfast?" Impmon asked. "What was I like before, then?"

Datamon turned and pulled up a monitor to check the information. "You were responsible for the Loading of millions of non-Singularity Digimon, killed multiple Royal Knights, and made a game out of torturing Digi-Gnomes."

"Yeesh..." Impmon grumbled with a grimace.

There was a loud beep and Datamon turned towards a monitor that appeared, revealing a tall, Demonic Digimon outside. "Reapmon..." I growled.

"Yes, it appears we have a visitor. Our conversation will have to wait until this problem is dealt with." Datamon turned away. There was a moment of silence before he turned around. "Well? I'm not dealing with this. A drone will lead you out."

"How brave," BG grumbled. He looked up at me. "Still, I've been looking forward to this."

"Me, too." I turned around and began to walk down the ramp. Time for some payback.

X X X

So, the shows are real. Well, can't let Gogglehead hear about this or he'll never let me live it down. And he'd probably waste all of his time trying to find out how to become friends with Tai and Davis. Just what I need, three Goggleheads running around like idiots.

At least some things are going well. Henry was able to meet back up with us. And using an Armor Rapidmon, he's dangerous in a whole new way. If I could Digi-Modify when Renamon and I are Sakuyamon... And his niece has one of those Nodes. If she can figure it out, they'll meet up in no time.

But Tasuke... I hope he takes down that Reapmon on the next Digimon: Digital Monsters!