Wild Ones in Shinjuku
Six Months Later, West Shinjuku
"Impmon! Pleeeeese! Don't go!", Ai and Mako begged.
"Guys, I told you this day would come..."
"If we did something wrong, we're sorry. We won't do it again. Pleeeese Impmon!"
"You didn't do any..."
"Children", their father intervened, "We discussed this. Impmon has a life of his own. As much as we'd like, he never planned to stay here forever..."
"Besides, I'm just going to the Akihabara, it's not like I'm leaving forever, like I won't stop by for visits whenever I can. Not like the last time I left".
"Why don't we all go with Impmon? He can show us his new shop. I'm sure he'd like that".
"Yeah", Impmon agreed.
Ai, Mako, their parents, and Impmon took the subway to the Akihabara. These days, subways were getting crowded once again. The evacuations were over, and Shinjuku was almost as busy as before Impmon ever arrived, before the Devas ran amok and spread terror and panic, before the D-reaper forced businesses to close, and their owners, employees, and customers to flee the area. Impmon liked the peace better, but life returning to normal was good for him, even if crowds were inconvenient.
They finally arrived at the station, made their way through the crowded streets, until they were assembled in front of a vacant store front. Impmon fished a key ring from the inside of one of his gauntlets, and unlocked the door.
"Welcome to the future home of Stratasphere Amps", Impmon announced as he held the door.
"So this is what you did with that endorsement money?", the twins' father asked.
"Most of it, yeah, I still have to fulfill my commitment to play in the next big Battle Card tournament. I'm still working on Ruki for lessons so's I can be viable competition".
So far, the inside wasn't all that impressive: "It'll take a bit of work, cleaning up, and setting up. Over here, this is where the display cases will be", he explained, as he pointed out the wall running alongside the door. "And over here, will be a sound proof listening booth for demos", he pointed out an area marked with yellow tape on the floor. "Back here, will be the main workshop. I'll install a partition to keep the public out, and where I can work undisturbed. I'll be needing help, eventually, hopefully. There's a loft upstairs where I'll be living. That way, getting to work won't be any more inconvenient than walking downstairs".
The whole lower level was empty, but for boxes of equipment and supplies recently delivered, but unopened. Impmon had become quite the expert designer of vacuum tube audio amplifiers. The prototype he designed and built had replaced that horrible solid state stereo. Ai, Mako, and their parents were agreed: Impmon's amp sounded far better. You could hear subtle passages that had simply gone unnoticed and unheard. Bass passages no longer sounded like monotonic thumping. Highs not only were clear, but clearly audible. The stereo imaging and sound stage were excellent, and no longer did every CD sound like it was coming directly from speakers muffled with a comforter thrown over them. No longer did instruments blend into a muddle. You could hear guitarists' fingering the frets, the slap of drumsticks against the rims of drums. Mako's father had commented that it was like getting a whole new collection of CDs, so much had simply been missed with that store-bought amp.
Impmon proposed to go into business for himself. He was well aware he'd have some stiff competition, but he had that covered. Since Yamaki had come through with his promises of obtaining for Impmon a permanent residency card and a visa with work permit, he had no problems (again with Yamaki's help) in obtaining the passport that would allow him to travel to the next Burning Amp - a DiY convention held every spring in San Francisco - to show off his design. A good write-up would help bring in customers. (He was also receiving invitations to visit American furcons as well.) If this worked out, Impmon would branch out to designing speakers and preamps. He also knew there was a demand for guitar amps with decent tone. He might even give that a go.
He led the way upstairs: "Here's the living quarters", he announced. The loft was more like a studio: just the one main room, with a small kitchenette off to one side. He had already arranged it with a futon, bookcase for the technical manuals and references he'd printed off the 'Net, a desk where he proposed to do design work, and maintain the business' books.
"Isn't this nice?", the twins' mother asked.
"Guess so. Seems kind'a dinky", Mako replied in that manner of childlike honesty that always led to the embarrassing, undiplomatic things young children are wont to say if given half a chance, to a reprimanding glare from his mother.
"I still don't see why you can't live with us", Ai said.
Impmon knew what the problem was: these kids tended to see him as a peer. After all, he was just a bit taller than they were. They had no comprehension of needing to earn a living, taking for granted parental support.
"Guys, I need to support myself", he tried to explain. "It's all a part of being a grown-up, and that's what I am, even if I don't look like one".
"But won't you be lonely?", Ai asked.
"No, not really. I'll be too busy for that. Besides, I can always come to see you when I visit. I'm not so far away, and I'm sure your folks'll be bringing you by for visits, and may be even sleep-overs. Don't either of you worry: I'll never be too busy not to think of you. We're partners, after all, and nothing will ever change that". Little did he realize just how much everything was changing, even as he spoke.
0xFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
Takato, Ruki, Jen and Siuchon, Kenta and Kazu had assembled at the dinosaur shaped shelter in the small park just a block from Yodobashi.
"Let me try it one more time", Takato said as he pulled out his digivice. He clicked through the menus and selected "COMM". The holographic display popped up, and he entered Guilmon's digital ID, then selected "Connect" from the sub-menu. The screen flashed "Connecting...". Nothing happened, until the display changed: "Connection timed out".
"That's what I've been getting when I try to contact Renamon: that time-out error. I don't understand it. How about you?", Ruki asked.
"Same here", Jen agreed.
"Me too", Kazu said.
"Ditto", Kenta confirmed.
"I can't call Lopmon", Siuchon added.
"What about Ryo?", Jen asked.
"Haven't asked him, but I doubt the news would be any different", Takato replied.
0xFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
"Thank you for seeing me", Jen said as he entered Yamaki's office.
"I always have time for the Tamers", he said, "so what were you needing?"
"This", Jen said as he took out his digivice, and tried to connect with Terriermon. They watched that time out error message appear. "Why can't we contact out partners?"
"It's not just your digivice?"
"No, Takato, Ruki, my sister, Kazu, Kenta – we all get that message".
"I can assure you Hypnos has nothing to do with this: we're not blocking communications from the Digital World. We have, however, been monitoring some unusual activity coming from the Digital World".
"What kind of activity?"
"So far, it's low priority as it isn't affecting the Material World. Your connection problems are likely coming from their side, not ours".
"But… why?"
"Now that I don't know, but it looks like our priorities are due for an update. It looks like someone doesn't want your learning of what's going on in the Digital World. I thank you for bringing this to my attention".
"Can Hypnos do anything?"
"I don't want to make any premature promises just yet".
0xFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
The peace and quiet of the control room at Hypnos was shattered by the sound of a klaxon.
"We have incursion", the operator, Reika announced. This was something she had not seen in quite awhile, and figured she wouldn't be reporting this again. She even ran the data a second time to convince herself. "They're deploying countermeasures... Icewall collapsing..."
"Wild Ones confirmed", replied Megumi. "It looks like a half-dozen at least. Better notify Chief Yamaki".
Yamaki was up in his office. Given the sensitive electronics, it was the one place he could indulge his nicotine habit, and that's just what he was doing as he was interrupted by the intercom. He set aside his cigarette in the ever present, over sized ashtray about ready to overflow with spent butts. "Dammit", he thought to himself.
"Yes, what is it?", he asked, not bothering to keep the annoyance out of his voice.
"We have incursion. Do you want to deploy the Yuggoths?", Riley asked.
"Negative", he replied.
"Should we launch tracers?"
"That won't be necessary". The digital field was already forming right there in his office. "Standby..."
"So, Calumon, we meet at last", he said, matter of factly after the field dissipated, depositing Calumon in his office.
"You recognize me, culu?", he asked. "Have we met, culu?" Calumon well knew who Chief Yamaki was. The last time he was in the Material World, he'd taken to breaking into the old Hypnos building to satisfy his curiosity. It was there where he witnessed this same Chief Yamaki order the destruction of Darklizardmon. He always believed he had not been seen, and he knew Hypnos couldn't identify him as he was not a digimon at the time. That was his last trip to Hypnos, and he thought his last ever.
"It was the description, 'a little cream puff of a digimon' that did it. What are you doing here?", Yamaki asked his unexpected visitor.
"I bring news of the Digital World, culu?", Calumon told him.
"I'm not gonna like this, am I? You wouldn't be bringing me good news, would you?", Yamaki asked.
"No, culu?", Calumon replied. "Something horrible has happened, culu? I need your help again..."
Returning to the intercom: "Cancel the alert", Yamaki ordered. "Delete all records of the incursion from the system".
"Chief?", Megumi asked, not believing what she was hearing.
"You heard me. Just do it".
"Yes, sir".
"So it begins again", he said to himself.
"Culu?"
"Never mind".
0xFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
It was one of those "big brother" duties that Jen hated: taking his little sister, Siuchon, to the park while their mother cleaned the apartment. He stood by, bored, as he watched her playing on the slides, swings, and those bouncy animals on coil springs. Just as he'd done lots of times before. He impatiently looked at his watch to see how much longer this would go on.
"Come play!", Siuchon called out as she began bouncing on one of the bouncy animals.
"I'm too old for that", Jen insisted.
"Suit yourself", she replied, none too pleasantly.
The digivice he still habitually clipped to his belt as a fashion accessory since the departure of the digimon unexpectedly chimed, as its screen flashed red. Jen was startled. A thick, white mist quickly enveloped both of them.
"Jeeeennnn?!", his sister called out.
"It's coming", he explained. Jen had seen this often enough, and expected to never see it again. And this time he didn't have Terriermon with him.
Two dark shapes appeared; Jen's digivice switched to "Ident" mode:
Name: Lynxmon
Type: Animal digimon
Attribute: Vaccine
Level: Armour
Attacks: Thermal Mane and Wild Nail Rush
Name: Ikkakumon
Type: Animal digimon
Attribute: Vaccine
Level: Champion
Attacks: Harpoon Torpedo and Northern Lights
The shapes filled in as the digital fields dissipated.
"I came for you, Siuchon", Ikkakumon told her, "to protect you".
"And I for you", Lynxmon added.
"You... know us?", Jen asked.
"Where's Lopmon?", Siuchon asked.
"We need to get away from here, and out of sight. There isn't much time", Lynxmon replied. "We'll explain later".
0xFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
"Be sure to send my regards to your mother", Yoshi Matsuda, Takato's mother, said to Juri as she handed over a sack of salty pretzel buns and a cappuccino. Juri often stopped at the bakery on errands for her mother. This time, she was shopping for herself.
"I'll be sure to do that. Say 'Hi' to Takato for me".
She made her way to Chou Park where she sat on a low stone wall by one of the nature trails.
"You are that Outworlder who dared to defile our world, even the realms of our god", Juri was startled, not having seen the approach of this unfamiliar digimon. That it was a digimon, there was no doubt. It stood upright, but was – maybe – a meter and a half in height. Three red claws protruded from the fronts of its heavy work boots, and likewise, the five fingered hands sported red claws. It was wearing a hood that covered all but its mouth. The right eye was red – an oval split down the middle by a red line. The left eye green. Both eyes were obviously part of the hood's design.
"But... I'mnotaTameranymore! Ididn'tdoanythingwrong! Pleasedon'thurtme!"
"Doesn't matter: you dared to defile the realm of our god!"
The new digimon raised a hand, and now Juri could see where its real eyes were located: in the palms of its hands. "Eye of Nightmare!", it projected a beam of light.
Juri cringed, but the expected pain never came, just a feeling of peace and calm. "Now, you silly Outworlder, you are mine".
"Yes", Juri found herself agreeing.
"Come with me".
"Yes", Juri said again, as it led her across a meadow, and into the surrounding woods. It led her to a tree with a thin cord tied in a hangman's knot that hung from a stout branch. Beneath the noose was a step stool that came just below Juri's knees.
"Step up", the digimon ordered, and Juri stepped up.
"This won't do", he complained to himself, as he began to shorten the rope.
The digimon assassin figured to make it look like the Outworlder hanged herself. Give them a mystery to distract them from considering digimon activity. He was interrupted by something black and white, moving quite fast.
"Noyoudon't!", as it tackled the digimon assassin.
"How dare you defy your God! Eye of Nightmare!"
The black and white digimon was ready for this, and turned his head away. That, however, allowed the assassin to tackle the opponent to the ground.
"Undead Fang!", it tried attacking.
"NONONO…!", the would be rescuer protested, as he was holding his attacker off. He knew if he was bitten, it would be all over. He knew that if this attack were completed, it would steal away all his life force.
"YESYESYES...!"
This gave the defender the time to get his legs under the would be assassin, and shove him off. The black and white digimon sat up:
"Dark Sky Horizon!", the negative energy attack struck nearly point blank.
"You ! FUCKING! Traaaa…"
The assassin burst into a cloud of data that drifted off and dispersed. All the while, Juri looked on, indifferent, as if it had nothing to do with her, even as if it were just a dream.
"C'mon, Juri, snap out of it". The new arrival slapped her face a couple of times, though not painfully hard.
"Uhhhh…", she was coming back. "IEEEEEEEE!", she screamed as soon as she regained full consciousness, turned to run away. That was impossible as the black and white fox digimon moved too fast for any human to hope to outrun.
"Listen to me, Juri…", he said as he held her by the shoulders, as she struggled to break his grip, eye-to-eye. He didn't seem threatening.
"You… you… know my name?", she quit struggling.
"Yes, Juri, I know who you are. I know a lot about you, where you live, who your parents are, that you were one of the Tamers who came to the Digital World to rescue the Bearer of the Light".
"What was that thing? How do you know?"
"That was Dracmon, one of Lord Zhuqiaomon's assassins. Trust me, and let me get you safely away. There will be time enough for answers to all your questions, but that time isn't now".
Juri could finally take a good look at the fox digimon. He stood about 175 centimeters. Back and sides covered with soft, black fur. Light gray fur starting just below the eyes, running down his front and between his legs. He stood on digitigrade feet with retractable claws. The hands, four-fingered as were most digimon. There were two ruffs of gray fur at the cheeks, and another ruff just below the throat. A lock of fur ran from the top of his head, and along the right eye. This led to a habit of head flicking to get it out of his eye. Two fluffy, white tipped, tails trailed behind him, covering his furry ass. His eyes emerald green, the pupils narrow vertical slits. As he wore no clothing, it was obvious this was a male.
"Come, let us be off", as he offered a hand.
Juri hesitated: "I don't know you".
"I'm not here to harm you, but we need to be going in case any more materialize".
Juri couldn't argue that point, she took his offered hand, and he led the way towards a shadow. They disappeared. Juri realized she was beside the residential entrance of her home that doubled as her parents' bar and grill.
"How did you do that?", she asked.
"I am a shadow walker; I move through dark places".
"Be quiet", she warned as she unlocked the door that led to a staircase up to the living quarters. Juri's father didn't like it when she came down to the bar and grill during business hours. Juri led the way to her bedroom. She brought her desk chair over while he sat on the bed.
"Why did that Dracmon attack me? How do you know so much?"
"They are coming for you… all of you, you and your friends. As for how I know, your digimon friends, Renamon and Guilmon, told me before I made the transit".
"But… why? I tried explaining, I'm… not a Tamer".
"It doesn't matter to Zhuqiaomon. It was enough that you were there in the Digital World. He doesn't care that you lost your partner..."
"Leomon", she said with a slight sob in her voice.
"I know I'll never replace your Leomon, but I will do my best to be a good partner. We need your help if we are to help you".
"Who?"
"We, the Guardians…"
"What…"
"Something's happened to the Digital World… something terrible. Something from our distant, dark past, something we hoped we'd never see again. You will be needing a partner, and I would be honoured if you would accept me".
"How would I become your partner?"
"You still have your digivice?"
"Of course".
Juri retrieved the digivice she received when she became Leomon's Tamer. She switched it on. The screen flashed a message: "Reconfiguing", with a text animation formed from equal signs and a greater than arrow and a spinner formed from the forward and backward slashes and the vertical line.
Finally: "Rebooting"
Her digivice switched into "Ident" mode:
Name: Shadowkitsumon
Type: Mythical
Attribute: Virus
Level: Rookie
Attacks: Fox Tail Fireball and Dark Sky Horizon
"Partners", he said.
"Partners", Juri agreed. "It's not gonna be like the last time. As soon as they close, I will introduce you to the 'rents".
"You didn't before?"
"No, they never met Leomon. None of us told, we were too afraid we'd lose our partners. Not like the last time: we're not hiding".
0xFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
The newly materialized digimon hid, waiting for his quarry. Despite his bulk, the narrow, winding streets and enclosed backyards made this unexpectedly easy. That most of the humans were away at work helped too. So far, he was pleased to know that he had not been seen. If the intel he'd received during his mission briefing was accurate, the mark should be passing this way any minute now. A quick, clean hit, back to his master to report success, leaving behind nothing more than a mystery for the humans to puzzle over for awhile. Then they would forget...
The red haired girl was walking home, as usual, after another school day that lasted too long to suit her. She had more important things to worry over than readin', writin', and 'rithmetic. "Renamon, why can't I contact you?", Ruki said to herself. It was as frustrating as that time Renamon went off with the Deva, Vajramon, with no explanation other than the cryptic "Only digimon can understand". She did not see the digimon until it stepped onto the sidewalk.
"Guar... Guardromon?", she had no time to think about what happened next.
What she took for Kazu's partner raised his right arm: "Destruct Grenade!" At almost the same instant, Ruki heard an ear-piercing screech, saw something large, white, and moving fast collide with Guardromon, sending the ordinance he obviously intended for Ruki into a house behind her. The shock wave was still powerful enough to knock her off her feet.
Before the temporarily disoriented Guardromon could recover, the hovering form struck again. Folding its white wings in front, it flung them wide: "Wind Seeker!" Taking a direct hit, Guardromon burst into a swarm of particles of data that dispersed and drifted away on the light spring breeze.
Ruki pulled herself up into a sitting position as the powerfully built, anthroavian landed and stood over her: "Are you hurt? Can you get up?" she asked.
Ruki stood, a bit unsteadily. The last time she saw this particular digimon, it was when Renamon was nearly killed: knocked senseless with the Wind Seeker attack, then almost clawed to death. But for Ruki's intervention with a broken stick she used as a make-shift dagger to buy Renamon enough time to digivolve to Kyuubimon, she probably would have lost Renamon... if not her own life.
"Your name is Ruki Makino, one of the ones calling themselves the 'Digimon Tamers", Harpymon more stated than asked.
Ruki considered lying, but knew the digimon wouldn't buy it: "Please... don't hurt me", she pleaded. Ruki well remembered the time Jen told her about Gorillamon, who came to the Material World expressly to settle an old score from Jen's video game.
"Why would you think I would hurt you? I'm here to protect you. It isn't safe to be out in the open like this. We need to get moving...", Harpymon warned.
"What's going on..."
"Less talking, more walking..."
"I'm not going anywhere with you until I get some answers!", she demanded. "What have you done with my partner?!"
Harpymon understood there would be no arguing with this girl. She had been warned about this very thing. "Renamon sent me..."
"Why didn't she come herself?"
"It's a long story, and now is not the time; here is not the place. I'll explain, but for now, we need to get going".
"How do I know you're not lying?"
"Very well. Do you remember when you first met Renamon?"
"Uh-huh", she replied with a nod.
"It was right after you won a card game tournament, just the two of you, no third parties who could have told me. Isn't that right?"
"Yes", Ruki agreed.
"The first thing Renamon said to you was: 'I am the strong digimon you have been waiting for'. Now do you believe me? Will you trust me enough to let me help you?"
Ruki could hear the sirens approaching, and ran the last two blocks to her home, Harpymon following in the air. Ruki entered the front gate, closing it behind her, as Harpymon landed on the front lawn. Hopefully, neither had been seen by the authorities who were coming to investigate the explosion..
"Granma! I'm hoooome!", Ruki announced, as usual.
Harpymon already knew about Ruki's family, but had no idea how the grandmother would react to her appearance. The reaction she got was the last she expected.
"I see you brought home a different one this time", Seiko Hata, Ruki's grandmother, commented. After learning about Renamon, her granddaughter's being a Tamer, the trip to the Digital World, the fight against the D-reaper, the bio-merging to form Sakuyamon, Ruki's grandmother was beyond being surprised by anything Ruki could ever do.
"Granma: this is Harpymon. Harpymon: my grandmother"
"Pleased to make your acquaintance", the anthroavian said.
"Likewise, Harpymon, Ruki's friends are always welcome in our home regardless of species. Uhhhh, Ruki, what happened to your fox friend? Did you have a falling out of some sort?"
"There are things you need to know - all of you", Harpymon announced. After they settled in the living room, Harpymon removed the feathered helmet that looked like a stewardess' cap, shook out her auburn hair, and pushed the flight goggles up to reveal her tawny eyes.
"Why did Guardromon attack me?", Ruki asked.
"You were attacked?!", Seiko gasped. Harpymon held up a wing to silence her.
"That was not the Guardromon you thought you knew. You, all of you, are in extreme danger. As are your partners..."
"What are you saying?!", Ruki asked.
Seiko looked on, very concerned: "So it starts all over again, the fighting. I thought we were done with all that after the D-reaper".
"This has nothing to do with the Ancient Enemy, but this new development is, in its own way, just as dangerous… for our world and yours…
"Renamon can explain it best.
"Before you turn on a computer, make certain that it isn't on line. That's how they track you: every time you use a cell phone, or log onto a system, every bit of that data goes through the Digital World".
Ruki unplugged the modem, and disconnected the cable before booting the system. Harpymon seemed to phase out for an instant as she ran a wing over the tower. A new file had been added...
"Ruki, if you're watching this - and I sincerely hope you are - then you have already met Harpymon. I sent her to be your guardian and protector. Ruki, I'm sure you've already noticed that your digivice isn't connecting anymore. I apologize for that, for worrying you as I'm sure you are. I wasn't as forthcoming about what is really happening here as I would have liked. Things I couldn't say over an open comm.
"You see, here in the Digital World, we have lost all confidence in our Sovereign. Discontent spread rapidly, in the wake of the D-reaper attack, the wide spread destruction, and dissatisfaction with Qinglongmon's decision to appease it by locking away the digientelechy. It was his belief that if evolution stopped, the Ancient Enemy would return to its harmless dormancy.
"What he failed to consider was that he was dealing with an ancient program without consciousness or volition. All it knew was to fulfill its original programming, and that it could never be appeased because it had no consciousness of its own. Digimon were never informed of these decisions, nor were we ever informed that our world had come under attack. We were left essentially defenseless. But you already know most of this story, having heard it from Qinglongmon himself when we were in the Digital World together.
"What you don't know is that Zhuqiaomon has deposed the other Holy Beasts, and has declared himself, not only the sole ruler of the Digital World, but God himself. At first, this development was greeted with widespread approval. Zhuqiaomon was, after all, the only Holy Beast to oppose Qinglongmon's decision to appease the Ancient Enemy, a fact he constantly reminded us of. When we realized we'd made a bargain with the very devil of Hell, it was too late. The block wardens in every neighborhood, the agents of Imperial Internal Security, the forced memberships in collectives called 'unions'… it is no longer advisable to be sharing honest opinions with strangers. Even among friends, there's always that furtive look around to see who might be over hearing, and only then are opinions shared in whispers. This is what our lives have become.
"Recall our meeting with the Holy Beasts. What impression did Zhuqiaomon make then? We have another Lucemon, Cherubimon, King Yggdrasil on our hands. Unlike those other tyrants, Zhuqiaomon is quite insane.
"The whole of the Digital World was on the brink of chaos. Guilmon formed the No Confidence Party after giving a series of speeches urging a more moderate approach than that of hot headed rebellion, pointless rioting, and revolution for nothing more than the sake of revolution, with no thought as to what comes after. To his surprise, his ideas found a receptive audience. The No Confidence Party grew out of these efforts.
"He, I, Terriermon, Cyberdramon, Marineangemon, Guardromon - those you know - and others you never met, worked together to write the Party's charter".
Renamon took out a paper: "Here is what we were working on, a charter for a new party: The No Confidence Party". She held it up and translated the digicode:
Resolved: we declare ourselves free citizens of the Digital World, not subjects. Our Sovereign, a.k.a. The Four Holy Beasts a.k.a. Qinglongmon, Ebonwumon, Baihumon, and Zhuqiaomon, have engaged in acts of misfeasance and nonfeasance. Their reign over us has become intolerable. Therefore:
* We declare that leadership derives its legitimacy from the bottom up, not the top down. True leadership does not derive from one's state of evolution, nor the number of digicores one has accumulated, but from the consent of the followers.
* The Sovereign usurped our natural right to determine our own evolutions, and deprived us of the means to defend ourselves by concealing the Light of Evolution.
* The Sovereign have repeatedly lied to us, failed to inform us, and thereby depriving us of the means to protect ourselves, and betraying the trust which we placed in them. They continue to do this.
* The Sovereign have brought ruin upon our world by a foolish policy of appeasement of the Ancient Enemy a.k.a. the D-reaper. Their nonfeasance in their responsibilities to protect our world allowed the D-reaper to grow in power. The Sovereign allowed the D-reaper to attack the Material World, thereby endangering countless human lives in addition to the digimon lives they endangered.
* We accuse the Sovereign of malfeasance in the defense of the Digital World. They remained indifferent, releasing the digientelechia only when their realms were under attack from the D-reaper.
* The Sovereign Zhuqiaomon has committed wanton acts of unprovoked war against the Material World. He continued committing these atrocities within the realms of the Digital World. Thereby endangering the whole of the Digital World by interfering with an alliance between the worlds to end the D-reaper threat. Zhuqiaomon has revealed himself to be a coward, in that he created servants to do all his dirty work for him.
Therefore: for these causes we demand that the Sovereign either answer these charges to our satisfaction, or failing that: we demand the immediate abdication of the Sovereign. We call for the convening of a world-wide convention to write a new charter for the governance of the Digital World, based on a federated, representative, parliamentary republic.
- The No Confidence Party"
"We thought we were doing good, redirecting destructive impulses into more constructive channels. The attendance at our rallies grew, and our party gathered strength. Finally, we were able to secure an audience with the Sovereign to present our proposals.
"Qinglongmon was rather receptive to what we were proposing, and though Zhuqiaomon was not, Baihumon and Ebonwumon were lining up to support Qinglongmon, in at least considering the possibility of a constitutional, parliamentary monarchy. Zhuqiaomon seemed to concede to the others. He betrayed us, after biding his time. He deposed his colleagues, declaring himself sole dictator of the Digital World. The suppression of the party began at once. We escaped, but barely. We had to hack our digital IDs, and go underground as fugitives. They're still looking for us, and if we are caught, we will be deleted on sight. Zhuqiaomon has ordered that any digimon who ever partnered with a human will be deleted.
"It gets worse, he isn't just content to eliminate partnered digimon, but also their human partners. You and your friends are in extreme danger. As far as Zhuqiaomon is concerned, we are all traitors. He also knows how powerful digimon and humans are when we work together, and he is determined to see that it never happens again. I don't know how far Zhuqiaomon intends to go. I can't say he won't unleash an attack on the Material World that would leave Hypnos no choice but to destroy the entire Digital World. Zhuqiaomon would rather destroy the whole world, and all digimon, rather than give up power. Zhuqiaomon intends to send assassins to the Material World to hunt down and eliminate the Tamers. We have arranged to send to all of you trusted guardians.
"I haven't mentioned Lopmon yet. If you'll recall, Lopmon started out as the Deva Antiramon. After our return, he returned to the service of his Sovereign. We escaped, only due to his last minute warning. I don't know what has become of him, but I fear the worst. For Siuchon's sake, I hope I'm wrong, but I don't see any cause for much hope.
"Harpymon, by the time you see this, you will already have seen for yourself how I described my partner: stubborn and head-strong. Do try to be patient with her. And Ruki, please do try to be as co-operative with Harpymon as you can. She is only doing the duty she swore to me, digimon-to-digimon, to keep you safe.
"Remember what I said just before I left the Material World, that I know we'll see each other again. I don't know how, but I haven't given up hope yet. Until then, I love you, Ruki".
"Ruki", Seiko asked, "Are you OK?"
"Hmmmmm...", she replied, "I am now, thanks to Harpymon".
"You're going back there, aren't you?"
"What do you think?"
Seiko understood.
0xFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
Takato was taking the long way home, through the park, to visit Guilmon's old home. There was no Guilmon waiting for him. Just the abandoned maintenance shed, reclaimed by nature, the doors once again stiff with corrosion of the hinges, the inside filling with wind blown leaves and bits of paper, discarded beer cans and cigarette butts: evidence of youthful misbehaviours: beer sneaked from wet bars, and cigarettes pinched from unguarded parental packs. Someone had lit a camp fire inside. Guilmon's old excavation to uncover the digital portal they'd used to go to the Digital World to rescue Calumon was rapidly deteriorating. Of course, no sign of a digital portal this time. "Guilmon, aren't you ever coming back?", he asked himself.
Suddenly, a fog bank appeared. Takato knew what this meant; he'd seen it enough times with Guilmon. It was big, green and golden, covered with sharp spikes: Dinorexmon. "Tamer: feel the wrath of God!", it called out. "Ogre Flame!". Takato could feel the heat of the flame thrower attack that ignited fires, as it narrowly missed him. Something pushed him out of the way... "Ring of Bright Water!"
"You dare to defend that human!", Dinorexmon accused. "You are a traitor to digimon and our God!" Dinorexmon's delay to issue threats bought just enough time. This new arrival produced a soft ball sized iron ball: "Grand Slam!" .
He threw it with enough force to delete Dinorexmon.
"Lutramon", the new digimon introduced himself. He was as tall as Renamon, and as delicate in appearance as his Material World counterpart, but looks are deceiving, covering up his strength. The anthro otter stood on webbed, digitigrade feet. White fur down the front, back and sides covered with charcoal gray fur. Unlike Renamon, he wore no fashion accessories.
"Thanks for that, even if you are cutting it a little too close".
"I arrived as soon as I was able to make the transit".
They ran off upon hearing the approaching sirens.
Upon arriving at the bakery, Takato ran an ident:
Name: Lutramon
Type: Animal digimon
Attribute: Data
Level: Rookie
Attacks: Ring of Bright Water and Grand Slam
"You're late…", Takato's father began the reprimand.
"I know, but I need you to listen… Something's happened…"
"What…"
Takato waved out the door, and Lutramon stepped into view.
"Who are… I thought the digimon were gone? Wasn't there some sort of agreement?"
"Lutramon", he held out a hand.
"Takehiro… Takato's father, but I guess you already know that. Now what is going on here?"
"I was sent as a guardian to look after Takato. Something is going on, and it's not good. Lord Zhuqiaomon has taken over as an absolute dictator…"
"So sorry to hear it, but how does that concern us, and my son?"
"Zhuqiaomon is determined to eliminate the Tamers. He's sent assassins, and they have already attacked. One was waiting in the park…"
"Wait here, do nothing, say nothing". Takehiro left the back room. When he returned, his wife was with him.
"I closed up early. This had better be good".
They crowded around Takato's digivice, into which Lutramon loaded a video file...
"Hi, Takato", Guilmon addressed him, "I would prefer talking to you again in person, but this vid is the best I can do... Destiny. Leomon used to talk about destiny all the time. Found it really annoying, but now, I keep thinking about that... and promises made in good faith rendered null and void by factors beyond our control. Leomon always said I had my own destiny, and I had no idea what he was talking about. Well, Takato, destiny dropped me into a very troubled world. At first, I tried to just mind my own business, to see what kind of a life I could possibly build for myself, without you, until that day when we could be together again. It seemed so simple, but I found I could not just stand by, doing nothing. All that talk of destruction, storming the Top Layer, overthrowing the Sovereign, but nothing about the horrible cost in lives, even a successful revolution would come at a very high price. Nothing about what will come after a successful revolt against the Sovereign. "I couldn't keep silent, I had to speak out. Next thing I knew, I was the head of a new party: the No Confidence Party, if you haven't heard of it already.
"Yeah, that's right: me - a politician...", Guilmon chuckled, "...I guess I learned more about leadership being your partner than I realized. We even had a major media personality promoting our party and policies. We were excited at first, but then, little-by-little, the subtle shift in emphasis began. More and more, the blame was laid at Qinglongmon's door; more and more, came reminders that Zhuqiaomon was the only one who stood against the appeasement policy. Other issues were downplayed, then forgotten, by deflection and distraction. None of us knew that it was Zhuqiaomon behind this, hiding behind anonymous "foundations" and chains of shell corporations.
"Our party was co-opted; its message corrupted. We saw it coming too late to stop it. You once said that no good deed goes unpunished: how right you were... At first, there was much rejoicing and celebration at the news that Qinglongmon, Baihumon and Ebonwumon had been deposed, that Zhuqiaomon was now our sole Sovereign - and our God. That didn't last long, after the purges began, the arbitrary decrees began to appear, the secret police and block wardens, then the decree of deletion for all formerly partnered digimon. We quickly learned not to trust our friends and neighbors. We learned that honest opinions need to be shared in furtive whispers, after making sure that no one can overhear. Our "God" wasted no time in revealing himself to be the very devil from the deepest pits of Hell. Such is the reality of life here in the Digital World.
"We will be sending you guardians, and Calumon as well. I don't know, may be it was because he was once the repository of the digientelechy, but whatever it is, he has a most remarkable gift: he is undetectable, and Zhuqiaomon has no idea as to his whereabouts. He will also make a good go-between, seeing how you won't be able to communicate by more conventional means. He's reliable, and more importantly, trustworthy... but you knew that already, right?
"I don't know if you will ever make it to the Digital World again, but if you do, don't forget the random acts of kindness and senseless beauty you used to commit here. Till then, take care. Always your friend and partner: Guilmon".
Yoshie Matsuda, Takato's mother, buried her face in her hands: "Why?", she wept. "Why our son? Why won't they leave him alone? How could a childish wish to play with a digimon lead to this?! I don't think I can stand anymore! When does it end..."
"Mom", Takato comforted, "It'll be alright. What's done is done, and we can't go back. We'll just have to see how it plays out, but I'll be OK. If I can survive the D-Reaper, I can survive anything..."
"But it's not fair!", Yoshie complained.
"What can I say? Show me where it says life will always be fair on my birth certificate".
"Takato!", his father reprimanded. He suspected that his son was enjoying this a whole lot more than he let on.
"Sorry... It's just I don't know what else to say".
"Honey", Takehiro started, "It's not the kind of life any parent would choose for their kids. But we just have to trust that whatever providence is at work here knows what it's doing, and that Takato will be protected. I don't know when it ends either, or how it ends, or if it ends... We all have our responsibilities, and this just happens to be Takato's".
0xFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
"Mom… Dad…", Juri began her announcement.
"Has something happened?", Juri's mother, Shizue asked as she'd noticed the serious demeanor.
"You can come down", she called up the staircase to the living quarters. They heard claws clicking on the wooden stairs.
"Shadowkitsumon", he introduced himself.
"You found a new partner?", her father Tadashi more stated than asked.
"This time, I'm not hiding him the way I did with Leomon", Juri said. "I shouldn't've done that, shouldn't've run off without saying anything…"
"Juri, I…", Tadashi began. "I can understand why you believed you couldn't tell us. I know now how much Leomon meant to you, how much it meant that you could join your friends as a Tamer. I'm happy for you, finding a partner".
Addressing Shadowkitsumon: "You treat my girl right, you hear me?"
"Always", he agreed.
"I hadn't heard, but digimon can come back? There was an agreement worked out? How about your friends and their digimon?"
"No, not exactly…", Juri began.
"Then what, exactly?"
Shadowkitsumon filled them in on what was happening in the Digital World. Explained about the attack in the park, the reason behind Zhuqiaomon's obsession with eliminating the Tamers, and that the Guardians were sent to the Material World to secure their safety.
"Why can't you damn digimon leave our kids alone?!", Tadashi protested. "Haven't they done enough?!"
"Mr Katou", Shadowkitusmon explained, "I'm sorry your daughter – the other Tamers – were involved. It wasn't our doing since the Ancient Ones are controlling the Frontier. It would seem they don't draw any distinctions between adult humans and children. They would be most familiar with kids like Juri since it's mainly kids who are playing the video games, chatting on the relevant message boards, drawing all the fanart and writing all the fanfic. How many humans your age do these things? Damn few! As for any future plans, I have no idea what is to come. All I ask is that I be allowed to do my job. That's all".
"I don't like it, not at all. I thought we were done with this after the D-reaper was destroyed. Alright, Shadowkitusmon, I do appreciate the help".
0xFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF\
Hypnos HQ
Chief Yamaki was up in his office, enjoying his dirty habit: smoking. It was only here where he could indulge as smoking was strictly prohibited around the systems: no particulates or tobacco tars fouling the air filters and circuit boards. The intercom on his desk interrupted: "Chief, the Director is on line 4" He crushed out the cigarette in the oversized, overflowing, ash tray. "Wonderful", he replied with an annoyed tone.
If there was one thing Yamaki disliked above everything, it was dealing with the "suits". However, it was also these same "suits" who paid the bills.
"Mr. Director", Yamaki answered, "what can I do for you?"
"Chief, I've been seeing some very disturbing reports these past few days. There's that explosion in East Shinjuku, in the same neighborhood where the Makino girl lives".
"That was an accident. A propane leak from a barbecue that wasn't disconnected from the cylinder. Gas leaking into a closed garage somehow ignited. I'm sure you can appreciate the potential hazard".
"I still find it suspicious this happened close to where one of the Tamers lives. Then there was that fire in Chou Park, a known meeting place for these Tamers, where Takato kept his digimon. Eye witnesses claimed to see a 'fog bank' shortly before what they described as a flame thrower going off…"
"I have no idea as to what they may or may not have seen. Eye witness accounts are notorious for being wrong".
"I need to know: is this digimon activity? Are those kids playing with digimon again?"
"While it's true we've been monitoring some unusual activity in the Digital World, so far it has had no effect on our systems. Until it does, it's a low priority matter".
"Your sympathies are well known, Chief".
"What are you accusing me of?"
"First, it was your campaigning for the government to award scholarships to these Tamers. Then it was your efforts to get that digimon who stayed behind…"
"Impmon"
"Yes, that Impmon a work permit, residency, and a passport, and rewards".
"I see nothing wrong with seeing to the Tamers' futures, or helping Impmon start up a business…"
"Other than how embarrassing it is…"
"If it inconveniences some politicians…"
"… For the government and the SDF to be relying on civilians – and fifth grade school kids at that… I think you are perfectly capable of covering for those digimon. You already demonstrated your willingness to place the entire country's future in the hands of ten year olds".
"If you are accusing me…"
"If I had any evidence, you would already be dismissed. As far as I'm concerned, you got lucky. If that project of yours, the project you begged us to approve, had worked right the first time we wouldn't have had these problems of Devas running amok, of D-reapers tearing up half of Tokyo.
"You were the hero of the day, but I warn you, Chief Yamaki, your political capital account is dangerously close to being overdrawn. Am I making myself clear here, Chief Yamaki?"
"Crystal clear"
"You flaming ass…", Yamaki said after the call ended.