Rollin' on a River
As soon as the Digital World night arrived as it always did, no setting sun, no twilight, just darkness as sudden as turning off the lights, Impmon announced: "This is it".
The Tamers and Guardians rolled the raft along the makeshift rollers, down an incline, and into the river. Everyone climbed aboard and Ikkakumon pulled the raft into the river's current. Impmon's creation proved to be stable both structurally and nautically. The tiller was effective enough that Ikkakumon didn't have to keep guiding it along. They thought it best to stay far enough from the shore line to avoid any possible attacks, and far enough from the barges that stuck closer to the middle of the river. This necessary as they were running without nav lights.
Harpymon and Devidramon took turns flying ahead on the look out for possible hazards and unfriendly digimon.
Ruki complimented: "I don't think Renamon could have done a better job. When we were trapped in the Valley of Gales - thanks to certain someones who shall remain nameless, Renamon got us out by building a hang glider that we flew out of the valley when we got a suitably windy day".
"I picked up a few survival tricks during my military service", Impmon replied. "We learned what to do if shot down, and no prospects for a quick evacuation".
"How far do you think we can get by morning?", Jen asked.
"No telling", Impmon replied. "Eighty clicks, I'm hoping. Depends on how fast the river flows, discounting the rather un-hydrodynamic design. We should have put enough distance between us and the city by morning. Best to pull into shore and not risk being seen in the daylight. You should also try to keep your voices down. Sound travels pretty good and far over water".
Takato's comm gave off a chime: the screen displayed that an unread message was available. He clicked on it: "Looks like Yamaki got our message"
Dear Takato:
It's good to hear you had an uneventful trip. As we feared, you made it into the Digital World just in time to prevent the deployment of Shaggai. We have been monitoring incursions of Rookie level digimon, whom we figure are more of Zhuqiaomon's agents. So far, they have been causing no trouble, and have pretty much gone unnoticed. I guess they're looking for you guys. It's only a matter of time until Zhuqiaomon figures out that you're not here in our world, if he hasn't already.
Take care, and stay safe.
Yamaki
Finally, the sky-scape of the city dropped behind, and the trees lining the bank grew more numerous and thicker, the night darker, to their relief. As in the Material World, night time along the river was eerily quiet, especially for kids used to the sounds of a major city all night long. They didn't realize just how noisy city nights really are, with the constant road noise, auto radios, foot traffic. There was always something happening, people needing to get somewhere, regardless of how late it was.
Without the glare of street lights, they didn't realize just how black a night could be. Here, the only illumination was the occasional data stream going to/coming from the Material World Sphere passing overhead. During the night, on several occasions, they saw the faint glimmer of eyes, heard ominous rustlings in the trees. Fortunately, nothing attacked, and they could only hope that whoever was in the forest, didn't notice. Or if they did, were friendlies.
"So what do we do now?', Kenta asked.
"We'll start our search", Jen explained, "after we get to where ever the river takes us".
"But… how?"
"I haven't thought that far ahead".
"I don't like the sound of that", Ryo replied. "I thought you all had a plan?"
"Given the short notice, how?", Ruki complained. "Besides for what purpose? 'The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men gang aft agley, An' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain, For promis'd joy!'"
"What the hell are you talking about?", Ryo asked.
"That's Robert Burns", Ruki explained. "He wrote in his Scottish dialect – which you would know if you ever bothered reading…"
"You don't know…"
"You want to hear the meaning or not?", Ruki didn't wait for an answer. "The best laid plans of mice or men often get fucked up by circumstances beyond our control and result in grief when they promised joy and success. Robert Burns wrote it after his plough dug up a mouse's den. He was sorry he'd done it, but he had no way of knowing. Robert Burns was also one of the earliest advocates against cruelty to animals".
"You just had to go and show off as a know-it-all instead of just…"
"That's enough from the both of you", Takato reprimanded. "The one thing we don't need is the two of you going at each other all the time".
That was always a problem. Ryo was not socially aware enough to know when he rubbed others the wrong way, which was often. Ruki still held a grudge from losing a Battle Card tournament to Ryo whose disappearance denied her a rematch. After meeting Ryo in Clockmon's domain, Ruki and Kyuubimon had taken off on their own despite – or to spite – Ryo's perfectly sensible suggestion to not separate. Kyuubimon didn't like the idea of wandering off without Ryo.
"I suggest we all take turns getting some shut-eye and standing watch", Impmon said to end any further arguing. "It's gonna be a long night, and we'll need to be fresh come morning".
As soon as the daylight reappeared, again with no glow on the horizon to herald the morning, Ikkakumon pushed the raft to shore. Once it was decided that they would have no need to travel further (and they couldn't go much farther anyway since a lock was coming up soon).
They dispersed into the woods to lay low. They settled in a small clearing. Kazu and Kenta passed out the MREs they insisted on bringing, and Takato and the others had to admit it was more welcome than they figured.
"So now what do we do?", Kenta asked.
"Ask around, see if anyone's seen our partners. Worked last time", Kazu replied.
"It won't be like the last time, when we could simply show around a drawing of Calumon, and hope to find someone who'd seen him". Ruki replied "Renamon and the others don't want to be found".
"Do we just wander around and hope they spot us? That's nuts. We have to ask around...", Kazu complained.
"Don't be ridiculous!", Ruki countered. "You two are the dumbest excuses for Tamers..."
"Hey! That's not fair! Back to the Digital World, and it's automatic little Miss High and Mighty!", Kazu complained.
"Knock it off!", Jen ordered. "This arguing is getting us no where. Our partners don't want to be found, except by us. It stands to reason they must have left some clue as to their where-abouts in the messages they sent us. They couldn't just say: 'Here we are, come and get us', in case one of our guardians got caught before they could cross over. There must be something in there to clue us in. We just have to find it, that's all".
They all agreed that Jen's suggestion was the best idea they'd heard so far. They had stored their partners' messages from the Digital World on their digivices. These, they viewed multiple times, coming no closer to a solution to their problem.
"Oh! It's no use!", Ryo complained. "We've been over it and over it..." It had been maybe a couple of hours, and they had watched each video message multiple times. Nerves were beginning to wear thin.
"Best to take a break. May be it'll come to us later", Juri said.
"Wait a minute", Kyukimon interrupted.
"Did you see something?", Takato asked.
"I'm not sure, but, could you play Guilmon's message one more time?" Takato started the video again. By now, he had the whole thing memorized. "Back that up: play that last few seconds".
"...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".
"What does that mean: 'random acts of kindness and senseless beauty'? I know of no such saying among digimon"
"It's a play on words", Jen explained. "'Random acts of violence and senseless brutality' was how it originally went. It's become something of a meme".
"A message from Outworlders to Outworlders... What did the other messages say? How many made reference to the Digital World?", Kyukimon asked.
"Renamon did", Ruki explained, "but all she said was that she hoped to see me again".
"So did Cyberdramon", Ryo added.
"And Guardromon, he said he looked forward to goofing with me", Kazu replied.
"Terriermon, too..."
"Lopmon didn't say anything about the Digital World", Siuchon explained.
"This message is different: it's the only one that's telling us to do something: 'don't forget' - to remember", Kyukimon pointed out.
"Not us, just Takato", Ikkakumon said. "Guilmon's asking Takato to remember. What did you do that could be considered an act of kindness?"
"I don't know... we did all sorts of acts that could be considered kindness".
"How about when you spared Beelzemon?", Juri asked.
"I don't know... I don't see..."
"Let's begin at the beginning", Jen said. "What did we do the last time we were here?"
"We arrived in that desert...", Kenta said.
"And you two set up that silly banner, like you were conquistadors or something", Ruki finished for him. "Then I spotted what I thought was an antenna farm..."
"But it wasn't...", Juri pointed out. "Just more mesas, then night fell..."
"We met our first digimon", Jen told the story. "Meramon, who threw magma bombs at us, and flattened Guilmon... Then Leomon took the fight out of him... Then he became co-operative, said he wanted to go to the Material World, but didn't recognize that picture of Calumon".
"He was killed in that jagamon stampede later that same night", Ruki recalled.
"That's right! We made a memorial first thing in the morning... Do you suppose Guilmon hid something under or near our memorial? Could it still be there after all this time?", Takato asked.
"No good" Ryo pointed out. "You're focusing too narrow. Kindness isn't necessarily the only thing he meant. He mentioned 'random' and 'senseless', too".
"Well, it was pretty random meeting Meramon", Kazu said. "It was also by chance the jagamon herd appeared, and he got trampled. That seems pretty senseless".
"True enough, but you didn't just happen to build a memorial? That was deliberate", Lutramon pointed out. "I don't think Guilmon could be referring to this incident. What else did you do?"
"We asked the jagamon if they'd seen Calumon or Makuramon. They pointed us in the direction they'd last seen them. We believed them, and headed in that direction. We didn't see anything..."
"I know!", Juri stated. "You guys weren't with us", she pointed to Ruki, Kenta and Kazu. "I was tired of walking, and we were gonna take a break. Terriermon then spotted those dome-shaped houses off in the distance. We almost missed seeing them, and, if you didn't stop, we would have walked on by. That was that..."
"Chuchidarumon village. They turned out to be quite friendly, shared their meal with us; we rescued the village from that 'Iron Beast' motorcycle...", Takato finished.
"And I didn't want to interfere...", Jen added. "Everything fits: we stumbled across the village by chance, Takato insisted on saving the Chuchidarumon even though they never asked for help, and I didn't want to interfere in what I thought was none of our business. Random, kindness, senseless - it all fits. That has to be it!"
"Well, well, well: Pineapple Head isn't as stupid as he looks..."
"Impmon, do you have to say stuff like that? I thought you...", Takato reprimanded.
"Forget I said that", Impmon said.
"They also said it was a 'forgotten village', a 'data graveyard'. Sounds like a perfect hiding place. Now, if only we knew how to find that desert", Jen explained.
"It was above the Valley of Gales", Ruki explained. "Renamon flew us out of the valley, and the Material World Sphere looked smaller down there. We also fell down into the forest where the Gekomon lived. When Renamon and I finally found Calumon, that, too, was in a forest that was beneath the desert. We were caught in a weird flash flood, and rode a water spout upwards to emerge back in the desert. Here, I don't know... Why don't you make yourself useful: you're the closest thing to a tour guide we have", she said, looking to Ryo.
"I'm not sure... That colourless town where Cyberdramon and I first met Takato was above the desert. I'm sure I've never been to this part of the Digital World... Sorry", he replied. "All I know is that it must lay pretty far up, though. The only place above it was the colourless town".
"Well, that's a first", Ruki told him.
Takato screamed out: "Get it off me!". Something small and dark dropped from the tree tops where it had gone unnoticed until now.
"Evil Snore!", the creature attacked, and Takato collapsed. Calumon trapped it inside a force field.
Name: Phascomon
Type: Demon animal
Attribute: Virus
Level: Rookie
Attacks: Evil Snore and Eucaly Claw
Kenta read off the profile. Phascomon bore a certain resemblance to Calumon, being that the head was disproportionate to the body, but the coloration was a dark brownish-gray, except for the lavender insides of the round ears, and bright red vertical lines that bisected the gray eyes. Two small ivory-coloured horns jutted from the top of the head. He was about Calumon's size, and his features resembled those of a koala.
"Why did you attack us?!", Ruki demanded.
"You're not digimon?"
"No. I'm human, and if you know what's good for you, Shorty, you'll explain yourself and do it damned quick. You'd better make it good because I'm this close (putting forefinger and thumb together) to ordering you deleted!", Ruki challenged.
"Please!", he begged. "I didn't know... We can't take any chances: you could have been Zhuqiaomon's secret police".
Calumon released the force field, freeing Phascomon.
"Calumon!"
"I sense no deception, culu?"
"I'm not lying!", Phascomon pleaded. "Your companion will be alright. I just knocked him out. We can't go back to the Dark Forest, and we can't take any chances of being discovered... If you're human, then you came from the Material World? Are you the humans we've been hearing about?" He pointed a red claw: "You, you're the Light Bearer?", he referred to Calumon.
"Yes, that's us", Ryo told him. "What else have you heard?"
"Just rumours... I didn't believe them, but I heard that the same humans who fought the Ancient Enemy were going to come back and help free us from Zhuqiaomon's tyranny. Were the rumours true? Are you really... the ones?"
"Maybe we are, then again, maybe we're not. Explain", Jen told him.
"I was a member of the No Confidence Party. I didn't have any sort of position in the party, just a member. After Zhuqiaomon overthrew the rest of the Sovereign, we heard the rumours from the usual rumour mill. I didn't know how reliable, but those of us who escaped the purges could only hope they were true. Are they?"
"Calumon?", Kazu asked.
"I'm still sensing no deception, culu? He's being truthful, culu?".
"Yes, it's true. Now I want to ask you a question", Jen started. "Do you know of the whereabouts of the leadership of the No Confidence Party?"
"I'm afraid I don't. You are their partners? Of Guilmon, Renamon, Terriermon, and the others? I knew they had gone to the Material World to seek partners".
"Yes, what you've heard is true, but now I'm concerned. It sounds like you know a helluvalot more than you should. That makes me very uneasy. How do you know, and how much does Zhuqiaomon know?", Jen said.
"Like I explained before, rumours mostly. Before Zhuqiaomon took over, there was no need for secrets. We all knew who our leaders were, and most of their history, as they were forthcoming and open about it. As for Zhuqiaomon and what he knows, I know nothing of such things".
Takato moaned, and Juri was by his side: "What... what... the hell was that?". He turned, and spotted Phascomon, he sat up like a shot: "Thatdamnthing!"
"It's OK, Takato, relax", Juri explained. "In your absence, we found out he's no threat. He attacked because he was afraid, afraid of Zhuqiaomon's secret police. How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine. At least there aren't any side effects. None that I can see just yet", as he got up.
Once Takato came around, the digimon watched over Phascomon, while the Tamers had a discussion quietly among themselves.
"Should we ask him? I mean, if he knows how to get to the desert?"
"He seems pretty OK", Ruki explained.
"I don't know. If he knows where we're going... I mean what if he's caught? He could tip off Zhuqiaomon", Kenta explained.
"And if we don't, who knows how long we'll be wandering out there, aimlessly?", Siuchon objected.
"May be not ask him at all. Why not take our chances with one of those pink light columns?", Kazu suggested.
"No good: Leomon said we'll never know where it'll take us... maybe even farther away than we are now? I wouldn't...", Juri explained.
"Neither would I", Ryo agreed.
"Look guys, we've been taking chances ever since the last time we came here. I say we go for it, and hope for the best", Ruki said. "There's no certainty he'll be caught before we find them. Even if they do, and he spills the beans, they won't know exactly where we're going. The sooner we get to them, the less chance they'll be caught".
"I have to agree", Ryo said.
"That's a first", Ruki replied. "The Legendary Tamer actually agreed".
"If you were right more often, I'd agree more often", Ryo snipped.
"Alright, you two", Takato reprimanded.
Takato approached Phascomon: "We're looking to get to a desert region. Lots of sand, no vegetation other than the odd jagamon, and studded with tall, flat top mesas. Do you know of such an area? And how far?"
"Sounds like you're describing the Sand Zone. It's one of the higher levels of the Physical Layer. As for how far... that's kinda hard to say. The Digital World isn't the same as where you're from, with simple point A to point B. You'll need to find a passage. Why do you want to go there?"
"Enough questions, Shorty", Rika shot back. "Ask too many questions, and maybe we decide you're one of Zhuqiaomon's agents... Or you're looking for a reward..."
"No. It's not like that... I'll need time to let the others know, so that they'll let you pass".
"Next, how do we get out? Find a town or someplace to pick up transportation?"
"About 30 clicks, that way", as he pointed before disappearing into the tree tops faster than they believed possible.
"Now what?", Siuchon asked.
"We wait here until Phascomon has had time to alert his companions, then... I don't know", Takato replied.
"I have some business to take care of", Impmon announced.
"What?", Juri asked.
"We'll need maps of that desert if we're to get anywhere. There should be a library, school, or something to get maps there in that town Phascomon mentioned".
"Are you sure about this?"
Impmon pulled off his red gauntlets, revealing sharp talons. They always wondered why he wore them; now they knew. He removed the red bandanna, and smiley badge. "I'm just another lost impmon, wandering around the Digital World looking for a new home. They won't suspect a thing. Don't forget: I'm an expert at B & E: how do you think I survived all that time in the Material World without partners?"
They could not deny that Impmon made a very good point, even thought they weren't happy about what he was proposing to do: expose himself in public. He stepped into a clearing, waited for Devidramon to fly past, and waved him down.
"I need a lift. There's a town about thirty clicks that-a-way", Impmon explained. "Drop me off about a click or two outside town. I'd appreciate it".
Impmon climbed onto Devidramon's back, and flew off, as the others watched.
"While we're waiting, let's see what else Yamaki's comm can do", Takato announced as he took it out, and turned it on. He quickly discovered that it had streaming media capability that could tune into Digital World broadcasts.
"Looks like TV's just as bad here", Ryo announced. So far, they'd come across some sort of soap opera, a game show, some educational program, and finally a newscast announcement from the Imperial News Network: "The Office of State Security has issued a bulletin concerning the suspected invasion of a human presence. All loyal citizens are directed to be on the lookout for suspect behaviour, and to report any unusual events..."
"That didn't take long", Ryo complained.
"Yeah, but at least if they suspect, they won't be attacking in the Material World, and isn't that a big part of the reason we came? To direct attention away from our families?", Takato pointed out. "Besides, they didn't say they knew for certain, just suspected".
"Still, I was hoping for more lead time on finding Renamon and the others", Ruki added.
"We knew it wasn't gonna be easy", Ryo added. "They haven't caught us yet".
"I wanna see Lopmon and Terriermon", Siuchon chimed in.
0XFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
Devidramon and Impmon easily spotted the town from the air. Phascomon's directions weren't too far off the mark. Devidramon selected a clear area to land. Impmon realized this was the beginning of a new subdivision that never got completed. Impmon crossed the field, and came upon a street running nearby. He headed towards the center of the town. Traffic passed him by, but no one seemed to be paying him any attention. So far, so good, he reasoned.
"Can you direct me to the library?", he asked a random passerby on the street.
"Sure, three blocks down, and two over... What're you looking for, if you don't mind my asking".
"Maps... planning on doing some prospecting. Not much left for me here... I dunnow, maybe find another place I can call home?"
"Yeah, too bad about the Violet Zone. I guess it'll be alright".
"What do you mean?"
"They're watching information awfully closely lately, especially maps and things of that sort. You have a clean ID?"
"Yeah", Impmon wasn't sure how clean his ID was, or even if he still had one at all, having lost every other connection to the Digital World.
"Zhuqiaomon's latest decree: all libraries are required to register the IDs of anyone checking out information, and what information they checked out, but if it's just for prospecting, you shouldn't have any problems".
"Thanks", he said while inwardly cursing as he headed in the indicated direction. It was a lucky break the friendly stranger had clued him in. He had no reason to do that. Maybe someone not too happy with Zhuqiaomon's rule? This wasn't something he'd been anticipating. It meant he'd have to wait longer than he planned before rejoining his companions. That also meant more exposure to possibly getting caught, the longer he had to stick around.
Impmon wandered until discovering a homeless shelter and soup kitchen where he could get a free meal, hang out while discreetly overhearing conversation. He gathered that the economy had deteriorated badly. Lay offs after the rebuilding, but mostly talk of ridiculously high taxation, inflation of credits, and the expropriation of unco-operative businesses turned over to Zhuqiaomon's lackeys who inevitably ran them into the ground after looting all their assets. He left before he came under suspicion, as he knew he didn't look scruffy enough to be a street person, and could have been taken for an undercover cop instead of just another wandering impmon.
Next, he had a look at the library. He walked down the street slowly, with just enough waver in his step to suggest the possibility of drunkenness. As he passed, he carefully took in the lay of the interior through the windows, committing everything to memory so he would know where to go even in the dark. He paid extra special attention to the door lock.
He came across a small mechanic shop, and watched from a discreet hiding place. There was just the proprietor working there. He waited. Finally, the shop was left empty, as the proprietor interrupted his work to attend to a customer up front. Impmon quickly slipped inside, selected what he would require: a hacksaw blade, a file, and a pry bar. In and out without being discovered. Just as he'd done before back in the Material World.
After leaving Ai and Mako the first time, he needed to support himself, and scavenging from dumpsters and garbage cans quickly became distasteful. Shelter was no problem as sleeping in trees came naturally to impmon. Food was the problem, and Impmon solved that by B & E. He picked locks, raided refrigerators and pantries for leftovers and canned goods, and helped himself to loose change swiped off dressers and kids' piggy banks for fares for the subway. He was always careful not to take anything of any real value that might go missing and be reported. He didn't need police reports of unknown cat burglers and the resulting attention. That worked well until making friends with Renamon and Ruki.
He hid down the street, in a blind alley, and made his preparations. He snapped the hacksaw blade in thirds, and began to work on a piece with the file. It wasn't easy, and took most of the rest of the afternoon, but he finally had what he wanted: a thin steel blade shaped into a narrow, gentle curve with a small hook on the end. Another filed down thin with a ninty degree bend to make a tension wrench.
As the night wore on, foot and vehicular traffic died down. He made his move, crossing the street, then to the library, and up to the front door. He felt around with his makeshift tension wrench to see which way the lock turned. He used the small hook to rake the tumbler pins, then set them. In under ten seconds he popped the lock. He needed to move fast. He didn't know what sort of security he was up against, but surely someone would detect that the system was back on when it shouldn't be.
Even in the dark, he quickly moved to the librarian's podium, switched on the system, and located an Atlas of the Digital World. Just what he was looking for, and more. He used the glow of the screen for illumination, made it look like he was trying to break into the cash box with the pry bar, and turned off the system. He was out and ducking around a corner when he saw an approaching police car, lights flashing, but otherwise running silent. He didn't stick around to see what happened next. He threw his makeshift lock smithing tools in the first convenient dumpster.
At the far end of the forgotten development, he softly whistled. Four red eyes appeared from behind the trees. "What took you so damned long?", Devidramon complained. "I was beginning to think you must've got nabbed".
"Long story, let's get out of here". Devidramon had no problems with that, as he and Impmon climbed into the sky, and Devidramon banked in the direction of the Tamers' camp in the woods.
0XFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
"Hello, the camp", came a call from the surrounding darkness. "Anybody there?", this time a bit louder when there was no immediate answer.
"Yeah", as a light blinded the digimon. "It's you, Phascomon", Jen replied.
"Good news: you can pass through the woods unhindered. Even better, I've found you transport..."
"To where?", Takato and Ruki asked at once.
"To the Sand Zone. I know someone. It's OK, he's been with the No Confidence Party from the beginning, and you can trust him. He knows how to get you there. It won't be easy, as you will have to get to a certain off-ramp. You'll find a strip of tape in the lower left hand corner of the next closest sign post. Change its orientation from vertical to horizontal, and your ride will exit, and will pick you up at the abandoned truck stop just off the highway. If you're not there in time, he'll just keep on going without stopping. If you don't leave right away..."
"How...", Ruki started to ask.
"You're not the only one with a reticence about answering too many questions", he replied.
Phascomon was interrupted by the arrival of Impmon and Devidramon: "I feel naked without my gloves and bandanna", he announced as Siuchon handed over the items. After returning his smiley badge to its rightful place: "Takato, I need to see your comm... So you're back, huh?", he asked Phascomon.
"I found a way...", Phascomon stated.
"Here you go... Uhhhh, Impmon, I thought you were gonna bring us maps?", Takato interrupted.
"I did", Impmon said as he turned on the comm, "Right here...", he said as he pointed to his head, "...and now here", as he ran a hand over the screen. Instantly, an entire Atlas of the Digital World appeared.
"How'd you do that?!", Siuchon asked.
"This is the Digital World, and everything here is pure data, so it's easy-peasy", Impmon explained.
"Do you have road maps?", Phascomon asked.
"Let's see...", Impmon said, "...OK, here ya go", as he turned the screen so Phascomon could see.
"How do you work this?", he asked. Takato used the stylus to click through the pages to the main index, as Phascomon and Impmon interpreted the Digicode writing. Once the local road map was located, Phascomon pointed out where the sign post he meant was located. This saved him from having to describe it, and possibly making a mistake. Much easier to show than to tell.
Ryo finally woke up, approached the group assembled around the glowing screen: "Whatcha doin'?", he asked with a yawn.
"Impmon and Phascomon solved our transport problem", Ruki explained. "You can wake up the Sleeping Beauty Twins", she said, referring to Kenta and Kazu - both of whom could sleep through anything, including a jagamon stampede. "We have a lot of territory to cover, and not much time to spare".
The main problem was that the highway was on the opposite side of the river. Fortunately, they still had the raft, and Ikkakumon to pull them across, against the current. Once across, Impmon set the raft adrift and had Ikkakumon sink it with a Harpoon Torpedo. No sense in leaving behind unnecessary clues or a hazard to navigation.
0XFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
Digital World daylight had broken for about four hours by the time they arrived at the highway. They needed to cross the median to the other side, made easier as this was the tail end of the "morning" rush. Siuchon was the first to spot it: "I see it!", she exclaimed, as she began to run down the shoulder, Ikkakumon right behind.
"Wait!", Jen called out to no effect. They had no choice but to chase after her. Just as Phascomon described, a green kilometer marker by the side of the highway had a strip of white tape that matched the white Digicode numerals. If anyone ever noticed, they'd just assume it was normal wear and tear that peeled back some of the green to expose the white beneath. The tape didn't peel off easily, and Impmon had to use a claw to get it started. It was obvious it had been there for quite some time, not something either Phascomon or his unseen companions had put there. Part of a future preparation a larger organized Resistance already had in place against a future need, they decided.
The exit was another half-click or so farther down the highway. Once at the top of the ramp, they saw the old truck stop Phascomon described. There was originally a steel gate barring entrance into what was once a parking lot, now torn down by unknown someones some unknown time ago for reasons they could never know. The blacktop cracked and neglected, the fueling pumps long gone from a concrete pad with just the old pipes and wiring sticking up. The building with all the windows broken out, kitchen appliances long gone, and just a counter typical of a greasy spoon truck stop. There was an old picture still hanging on the wall, some generic rural scene. Nothing valuable enough for anyone to bother to take.
"Hope we got here on time", Kenta said.
"Either we did, or we didn't", Kazu stated the obvious. "If we get to the desert, then what?", he asked.
"I would look for where we entered the Digital World the first time", Kenta replied.
"But how do we find that? It was a pretty big desert, as I recall", Kazu asked.
"We know it was just in front of three mesas", Jen replied.
"That could be anywhere", Takato said. "I'm not even sure I'd recognize it even if I saw it".
"You're forgetting something", Juri pointed out. "First, we thought we saw dish antennae..."
"And they seemed to go on forever", Ruki added. "I bet that's on the map..."
"And Leomon said that they were likely natural formations that looked like antennae because they were patterned after Material World data. He even said it looked like a large array radio telescope. That should be quite recognizable on the maps Impmon brought", Jen completed Ruki's thought.
They were scrolling another page of desert maps when Shadowkitsuomon said: "How about that?" He pointed to something, and Takato zoomed in that page. Now, the rectangular shape of the formation became clearer. They'd seen nothing that looked like it up till now. A closer zoom revealed even rows and columns of mesas that did, indeed, look like a large array radio telescope. "That has to be it".
"And here", Juri pointed to a small triangle of mesas not too far off. There was no doubt about it: this is where the search would begin.
They heard the unmistakable sound of a jake brake, and looked out the window. A tractor-trailer, looking very much like a Peterbilt, was slowing to take the exit. Was this their ride? They continued watching as the truck slowed coming up the ramp. They all ran outside as the truck braked to a stop in the parking lot with the hiss of air brakes. The driver exited, looking around (possibly intending to look as if not knowing the stop had been closed). He was a big guy, over two meters in height, narrow at the hips and wide in the shoulders. He wore black denim trousers and a flannel button down shirt.
"Le... Leo... Mon?", Juri asked.
"Why are you looking at me like that... like you know me?", Leomon asked.
"Don't you?"
"I'm sorry, but I never saw you before. You, all of you, are the first humans I've ever seen. I am who you've been waiting for, but that's all I know of any of you. We shouldn't dawdle; too much chance of being seen out in the open like this".
Leomon unlocked and opened the back of the trailer and escorted the guys and their guardians into the back. Most of the containers were legitimate cargo, but a few were actually hidden compartments. It was decided that the girls would ride up front. Leomon boosted Juri, Ruki and Siuchon up into the cab. There were more hidden compartments built into the sleeper. Siuchon found it a bit of a tight fit, as she was sandwiched between Ruki and Juri. The cab's bench seat wasn't intended for so many passengers.
Once on their way, Juri, sitting next to Leomon: "Leomon-sama...", Juri began.
"You have me at a disadvantage here, young human".
"Oh... I'm Juri... Juri Katou", she introduced herself.
"You seem to have me confused with someone you know?"
"My first partner was Leomon, and, I thought... I was hoping..."
"I'm sorry I'm not your Leomon, Juri. You do know there are more than one of us? What about your partner?"
"He was killed by Zhuqiaomon's hired assassin. Leomon tried to save us... He sacrificed himself...", as she paused to wipe a tear from her eyes.
"I'm sorry for your loss, young Juri; he sounds like he was a good partner. That must have been pretty rough. I hadn't realized Zhuqiaomon's evil transcended entire worlds, that he hurt humans as well as digimon. That bastard really needs to be stopped".
"Thank you... at least you have one thing in common, he was nice, like you".
"As for introductions, I'm Ruki Makino..."
"And I'm Siuchon Lee".
"Pleased to make your acquaintances. You seem to be quite a bit younger Siuchon?"
"I'm here with my brother. He's eleven, and I'm eight".
"Have a partner too?"
"Sure do. Ryo once said it didn't matter, if you have a partner, then you're a Tamer". Siuchon was learning not to be as forthcoming with unnecessary information.
"I take it you're with No Confidence?", Ruki asked.
"Damn straight".
"Is that why you have all the hidden compartments? For us?"
"No. Do you realize how expensive it is to fuel and maintain a rig like this? I worked damned hard to save up enough credits to put a down payment on this rig, to go independent. That's when that damn Zhuqiaomon decided to spread the wealth. With the worth of credits dropping, fuel growing more expensive by the day, I can't make enough to make it pay. That's why I'm forced to work off the books, to double load, to haul the kind of freight it's best not to ask too many questions about, and that's why the hidden compartments. I defy you to find an independent trucker who doesn't... That's the life our 'God' has given us: cheating has become a necessity for survival. We don't ask too many questions these days - nor express an honest opinion - but if you are who I think you are, I wish you success. Zhuqiaomon can't be gone soon enough to suit me. I'm waiting for the next shoe to drop".
"What's that?", Juri asked.
"All independent truckers will be required to join the Union. I'd be lucky to make enough just to survive as nearly every credit will wind up in the pockets of Zhuqiaomon and his cronies. If that happens, I'll drop the trailer in the middle of a freeway, and roll the tractor off a cliff. You don't know the half of it, what it's like now. Hell, I almost prefer the D-Reaper. At least it was decent enough to get it over with quickly and mercifully, not like this slow bleed that devil's giving us".
Takato and the others had a less comfortable ride in the trailer. Still, Takato figured now would be a good time to send a message to Yamaki.
"Do you really think that's such a good idea?" Jen asked.
"Yamaki said our comm is untraceable".
"He doesn't really know. Even if he was right about that back in the Material World, who knows what countermeasures they've made since our arrival? How did they know to look for us? We don't know how they're looking for us right now. I can't rule out the possibility they traced our last message to Hypnos. We can send him a message when it really counts".
They rode along in silence. Juri liked being so far above the rest of the traffic, like a bird's eye view, she decided. Finally, she spoke up: "Leomon?"
"Yes, Juri".
"You won't get into trouble, helping us?"
"Trouble is something I do my best to avoid. As for the outcome, I leave that to destiny".
"My Leomon talked a lot about destiny", she observed. She wondered if this might be a common habit among leomon.
"Did he now?"
"It took me a lot longer than it should have before I really understood... that your destiny isn't set in stone, I mean".
"He was right. All we can do is hope to make the best choices now, for a better outcome later. The way things are going, it can't get much worse... or maybe it can. That's the scary part, yannow. Don't concern yourself with me: I made my choice before ever meeting you".
"What's going on?", Juri asked. They were a couple hours out, and so far, the trip had been uneventful.
"You and your friends get in the back and hide where I showed you. It's a check point". This was something with which they were unfamiliar. "Stay quiet, regardless of what you may overhear; don't let them catch you before you're actually caught".
The others riding in the trailer knew something was up when they heard the jake brake go off. The entire highway had been blocked off, and he was waved into a lane reserved for the inspection of trucks and other heavy vehicles. The checkpoint was being run by a half-dozen guardromon. Leomon also noticed several thunderballmon were there as well. He did not like the looks of that, since thunderballmon were small, and could get into nearly anything.
"License and registration", one of them demanded.
As Leomon was retrieving the documents he kept behind the visor, he asked: "Problem, officer?"
"Just do as you're told".
"Just trying to make some friendly conversation; long hauls are lonely".
"I'll ask the questions here. Obeying orders and keeping your mouth shut are the 'friendliest' things you can do".
"Yes, sir".
Guardromon looked over the documents: "Step out of the vehicle". Leomon did as asked. As soon as he set foot on the highway, Guardromon's companion did an ID scan.
"His ID is clean", the one told the other.
"Travel manifest", the initial guardromon officer asked. Leomon climbed up the steps, and retrieved the manifest from the dash board. He handed it over, and waited as Guardromon looked it over. "You seem to be running a day behind schedule".
"Left rear dual threw its tread. Had to stop to get 'er replaced".
"You didn't report this".
"It slipped my mind. My apologies, sir".
"Check it out", he told his companion, and the other guardromon stepped around the front of the cab. As they waited, Guardromon glared at Leomon: "You should be more diligent in your duties".
"I'm sincerely sorry. I'm just like you: another working stiff and a humble servant of our God".
"It's like he said, new tire", the guardromon returned. Leomon hated throwing away a perfectly good, though somewhat worn, tire that still had lots of use left, but he knew this was necessary in order to explain his delay, as he did his No Confidence duties. A slip-up like this was something to be avoided, even if it was costly. Military service, digibattles, and long hours on the road had taught Leomon attention to detail.
"What's in here?", he asked, pointing to a small door behind the cab.
"Sleeper, just a bed and a small kitchenette, desk - what you need for calling it a day away from facilities".
"Open it".
Leomon did as asked, and Guardromon peered in. It was as Leomon described, and his curiosity was apparently satisfied. Leomon was counting on these guardromons' being the usual working stiffs: long boring hours that would dull their wariness, as they put in their time.
"Open the back of the trailer", he demanded next.
Leomon led the guardromon officer along the side of the trailer to the back, and unlocked and opened the large double doors. The interior was filled with shipping containers. Nothing looked unusual, or so Leomon hoped.
"What's in the containers?"
"Like the manifest says: new furniture, kitchen cabinets, that sort of thing", Leomon answered as if it were too obvious to mention.
"No unauthorized loads?"
"No, sir". He knew any further denials would look too suspicious, as he knew the guardromon knew independent truckers double loaded off the books.
"Close it up. Picked up any hitch hikers?", the interrogation continued.
"I never do: that's a good way to get 'jacked, and find yourself on the side of the highway without a rig or cargo".
"Seen any hitch hikers?"
"No, not lately".
"You claim to be a 'humble servant of God', and yet I notice you haven't joined the Union yet. That could be interpreted to mean you place your own selfish desires and ambitions ahead of giving back to the state which has given so much to you, these highways you use to make your living".
Hearing this, Leomon had to almost bite his own tongue: "I would like to join as soon as I can get this load dropped off, and return home".
Guardromon escorted Leomon back to the cab, and returned the documents: "See that you do. Otherwise, your devotion to God could come into question, and we wouldn't want that, would we?" Guardromon said with the threat unveiled. Leomon inwardly sighed with relief, and hoped to soon be on his way.
The guardromon waved him on, as Leomon let out the clutch. He waited until the checkpoint had long disappeared from his rear view mirrors just in case this checkpoint was a fooler. Sometimes they did this: set up a preliminary checkpoint that did a cursory inspection to instill a false sense of security before coming upon another a few clicks further down the highway. It appeared that was not the case this time, and he wrapped on the wall behind him: "You can come out now", he called to the three girls.
As they returned to their places, "What was that all about?", Siuchon asked.
"Just another example of what life is like under Zhuqiaomon. The highways are always choked with these checkpoints. They aren't just looking for illicit cargo and off the books double loading. They're also gathering information on travelers, looking for those wanted for political crimes, and also for tracking where citizens are travelling and for what purpose. It also keeps the instilled fear alive and well, as it's just one more reminder that Zhuqiaomon's state is always watching. Qinglongmon may have been a naive fool, but at least when he was leading the Sovereign, they let us alone for the most part. We could come and go as we pleased, earn an honest living, express an honest opinion, and other than the occasional challenge from some other digimon, there were no problems.
I know little of your world, but one thing I do know is that you still have a lot of freedom. Cherish it and guard it. Don't make the same mistake we made".
0XFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
"Everybody out", Leomon announced after opening the trailer doors. The girls stood by. "We're here". The rest of the Tamers and their guardians emerged from the fake shipping containers, and stumbled out. Stiff and with eyes not adjusted to the daylight. They saw that they'd stopped along the highway.
Leomon explained: "Go that way", he said pointing, "until you come to a large brook. Follow it upstream until you come to a waterfall. Behind that waterfall, you will find your transportation. I discovered it when I was still an In-Training, and told no one what I'd found".
"What is it?", he was asked.
"No one really knows. It seems to be the remnants of an ancient transportation network. We have no idea who built it, who originally used it, or how ancient it truly is. It's one of those features that has had archaeologists flummoxed, well, forever. For all we know, it might even predate the arrival of the first digimon. It is still functional, and will take you to the Sand Zone, if that is where you desire to go. As for how it works, no one knows even that for certain. I have to get back on the road, and back on schedule. Take care and good luck to all of you".
"Goodbye Leomon! Thank you, Leomon!" they called out in chorus as Leomon stuck a paw out the window and waved as the truck continued down the road, as he looked for a place with enough room to turn around.
"Guess we'd better get going. Maybe we can find it before night", Takato announced as they disappeared into the thick forest. There were some small digimon flitting about, though they never actually saw them. A few minutes later, they could hear the running water, and then came upon the brook. The water was moving fast, and was cold and clear. Moving upstream wasn't easy as the trees grew right to the banks. Sometimes they waded, and sometimes there was a break along the bank.
"How much further?", Kenta complained, just at the time the sound of the waterfall became obvious.
The waterfall cascaded downwards for about six meters, dropping into a wide, deep pool it had excavated. They had no choice but to swim for it. "Ugh! We're gonna get soaked", Ruki complained.
"Not unless you believe you will", Jen explained.
"What're you talking about!", Ruki shot back.
"Jen's right", Takato added. "That was one thing we discovered the last time. The Digital World is all form and no substance. Things only look substantial because... how did Renamon put it? Everything has to look like something, but really it's all just ones 'n' zeros. So don't worry about it".
Ruki and the others were amazed to find out that Takato and Jen were indeed right. They could swim through a torrential down flow of even the waterfall, and emerge on the other side completely dry. What they discovered behind the waterfall wasn't just the bare rock of the hillside forming the cataract, but something that looked like a temple of some sort. It was thick with moss and lichens that obscured most of the details, though there was a rectangular opening with neither door nor gate.
The inside, carved from the bedrock, was cavernous. There was not the slightest trace of moss growing on the walls; the floor wasn't covered with the slippery slime they expected, nor was the air heavy with the expected dampness even though water crashed down and sent up a constant mist just outside.
The walls and ceiling were not the least bit smooth, as every bit had been carved into a relief of squares and rectangles, most of which stood alone, others connecting to form more intricate straight-sided shapes. They had no idea as to whether these shapes were simply decoration, or if they held some hidden meaning that had eluded everyone who'd studied one of these constructions. There was no doubt about the artificiality of these shapes.
"This looks familiar", Juri remarked.
"Sure does", Takato and Jen agreed. Juri, Takato and Jen were the only ones to have seen this, as Ruki, Kenta and Kazu had not been present, having been trapped in a column of light at the time.
At the very back, they discovered a cubical box with rounded corners. The side facing them was open, the sides completely smooth, in contrast to their surroundings. It looked like it was constructed of fired, unglazed, reddish-tan clay. It must've weighted a ton or more, and looked as if it had been shaped or cast and fired as one solid piece, as there was not the slightest trace of a seam to be seen, inside or out. The most amazing thing was that it was suspended several centimeters above the floor.
"This is it, just like Leomon promised", Takato and Juri announced.
"This is what?", Ruki, Kenta and Kazu asked.
"It's a vehicle", Takato answered, "though I'm not sure how it works. We took a similar vehicle to where we found you guys" he said, referring to Kenta, Kazu and Ryo.
"Maybe telepathy of some sort?", Jen explained. "The last time, we were looking for Kenta, Kazu, and Ruki when Guilmon traced their scent to that other one in the ruins in the desert. We wanted to find them, and that's how we ended up in that black-and-white town. If we all think about returning to the desert?"
"The big guys, Ikkakumon and Devidramon should get on first, then the rest of us", Takato suggested. Ikkakumon was first in and pushed the whole thing a bit closer to the floor. There was enough room, but barely. "Don't be afraid of what comes next", Jen said for the benefit of those who were unfamiliar with this.
What seemed to be a solid, open-ended clay cube improbably twisted and closed up completely even as the substance continued to look and feel like fired clay. Takato had his flashlight at the ready, otherwise, it would have been completely dark as the box closed up. They felt it accelerate, and knew they were on their way, hopefully to where they decided they needed to go. Jen, Takato, and Juri took it quite calmly. The others, not so much.
There was no telling how long the trip took, but they knew it was ending as the box felt like it was decelerating. The front opened once again, and they all saw that they were in a place quite similar to where they had departed. Only this time, it wasn't a waterfall visible out the open, door-less entrance, but a sandy vista. As they exited, they saw that they were indeed back in the Sand Zone, in the middle of ruins dominated with solid, rectangular and cubic monoliths. Every one lay on a flat face, and looked quite solid, except for the one containing the "station" where they arrived, which appeared to be balanced on an edge. Perhaps to call attention to its unusual function? It was also the only monolith that had been hollowed out, and had an entrance. As with the starting point behind the waterfall, the interior was completely free of wind blown sand when by all rights it should have been filled with it.
They saw that they were indeed at a higher level, as the Material World Sphere looked decidedly larger than it had ever since their second visit to the Digital World. It didn't look like anything had changed: it still looked like an empty desert wilderness, studded with tall mesas, no trace of vegetation, nothing moving about other than the pink spherical "tumbleweeds" of this New Mexico/Arizona look-alike: "dust packets" consisting of discarded, unused data from either world.
As before, Takato and the other "city kids" still found the vast emptiness quite compelling, and the quiet somewhat unnerving.
"This is where...", Kenta started.
"Don't go there", Ruki reprimanded with a harsh tone.
These ruins were especially memorable for Ruki, as she and Renamon had first discovered them shortly after leaving the Valley of Gales. It was also here that Kazu and Kenta had disobeyed orders to wait by their original entry point, thereby just barely missing the arrival of Takato and the rest of their party. They also failed to obey Renamon's order to run as a column of light was approaching. Kenta and Kazu had been fed up with what they considered Ruki's bossiness and chose a bad time for a display of defiance. Kenta said that the column was too far away to worry about, not realizing how fast it was actually moving until it was too late. This is how the four of them found themselves in the domain of Clockmon and his partner Hagurumon, much to Ruki's displeasure.
It was also the place to which Guilmon had led the rest of their party as he followed Renamon's scent. Since they had arrived after the column of light had swept the others away, Guilmon lost the scent trail. They had noticed the strange on-edge cube, went to investigate, and discovered the cube shaped vehicle. They didn't know what it was, though Terriermon discovered that this cube seemed to be balanced very precisely, as it responded to his slightest movement. Next, Juri decided this looked like fun, and persuaded the rest of the party to join her, despite Jen's initial reluctance to be fooling around with the oddities of a world they did not understand. Leomon was the last to climb in, and that was only because he needed to stay with Juri, to protect her. Thus began their trip to that black-and-white, deserted town where they rejoined Kazu, Kenta, and first met Ryo. The next day, Ryo, who was familiar with this part of the Digital World, led them back to the Sand Zone.
Ikkakumom looked around: "Oh my...", he sighed. He'd never seen any place like this. If he thought Tokyo was bad...
"I know what you mean", Siuchon agreed. No environment could be less suited to a heavily furred, walrus-shaped, arctic-adapted aquatic digimon than this vast "sea" of sand without a trace of moisture to be seen anywhere. Unlike the Material World, this desert was without even a mirage.
"Where do we go from here?", Ryo asked.
"That shouldn't be too difficult to figure out. We're maybe a ten minute's walk from where we originally entered the Digital World. The last time there was a dust storm, but now...", Ruki looked around. "There", she pointed, "those are the three mesas".
"Let me see that map", Impmon requested. Takato handed over the comm, and Impmon brought up the page. He studied it, changed the zoom.
"OK, if these are the three mesas you're referring to, and this is that 'antenna farm', as you called it, then you had to approach it from this direction", as he pointed out the various locations.
"That looks about right", Juri agreed.
"You'd've met Jagamon here. If I'm correct, and this little valley over here is where Beezy first tried to attack you guys, before that fierce storm that Hypnos caused, then I back track your paths and mine would intersect... here. That village should be right around this area here. That should get us close enough to see it at any rate". Pointing off towards the horizon: "That should be the 'antenna farm', over there".
Ruki had her field glasses out. "I do believe you're right".
"Then we go!" Takato announced. "Or not": the Digital World daylight disappeared as suddenly as flipping a switch. They went inside the "subway station" to await the return of daylight. It was one thing they learned the last time: night brought out strange and possibly unfriendly digimon. At least they wouldn't have to spend the night out in the open.
Kazu and Kenta passed out the MREs they'd brought. A minor argument broke out over who would stand watch. It was decided that Siuchon wouldn't be required for this, but Ruki wasn't agreeable that Kenta and Kazu would take their turn. She still considered them irresponsible and unreliable, based on her prior experiences with their constant whining, their irresponsibility that led her and Renamon to get caught in one of those data streams, once because they foolishly tried to outrun one, sending them to the Valley of Gales, and once because they defied her, sending them to Clockmon's domain. Naturally, neither of them took this too well. Takato and Jen finally settled the argument, pointing out that that was then, and that they had learned their lessons, that they had both come through for them during the fight with D-reaper. Kenta and Marineangemon had appeared to rescue Takato and Guilmon from the chaos mass; Kazu and Guardromon had fought off D-Reaper attack drones, buying the rest of the Tamers the time to biomerge. Ruki had to agree that they had come through.
So they did get to stand watch, and didn't fail in this duty.
The night passed uneventfully. Some digimon were heard moving about in the distance, but none came close enough to actually be seen. Hopefully, this would delay their discovery.
"Better get going", Takato suggested with the return of daylight. From prior experience, they all knew that things looked closer in the desert than they actually were, and that the walk to the "antenna farm" was going to take a considerable part of the day. Ikkakumon discovered that his feet, adapted for walking on snow, allowed him to walk over the fine, dry sand as easily as though it were snow. It felt every bit as hot as Arizona in July, but dehydration and over heating were not problems, and that was a good thing, as the real Arizona climate would have dropped Ikkakumon within ten minutes. The climate of Tokyo was challenging enough for him in his physical form. In virtual form, none of them had any real need for water or protection from the apparent heat.
This time, Kenta and Kazu, though they still wanted to complain, kept it to themselves. They didn't need to worry about Juri, as she never complained about anything. Even Siuchon didn't complain, though she did accept Ikkakumon's offer to let him carry her. The whole group walked onward in silence. There really was nothing to say. For that, Ruki was grateful, and, perhaps, she figured she had been too rash with her negative judgements of these two.
After a walk that would have taken them from Shinjuku through Shin-Okubo, Takadenobaba, Mejiro, and Ikebukuro (as Kenta and Kazu counted it - and it wasn't that much of an exaggeration) they arrived.
"Is this the valley you described?", Impmon asked. They were standing in a wide, shallow, U-shaped valley that cut through the "antenna farm".
"It could be", Jen explained, "but I'm not 100% positive it's the same one".
"We did approach from a different direction than the first time", Ruki added. "If this is the place, then we would have camped up there, on that hillside, and that jagamon herd would have come straight through here... Damn! If only Renamon were here... she had a better eye for details..."
"If we could find that memorial we built for Meramon", Takato said.
"I'd expect that's long gone", Jen added. "It's been over a year, and then there was the D-Reaper attack. It was the best we could do under the circumstances".
"We don't have to be quite that accurate", Impmon pointed out. "You're sure that you were here, on this side of all those mesas?"
"Of course, we did approach them from the same direction, more or less".
"And which direction did Jagamon point you?"
"This way, more or less... I think".
"You're sure about that?"
"As sure as we can be".
Impmon consulted the map, and decided that they were definitely going in the right direction: "Let me see your glasses", he requested of Ruki. She handed them over, and he scanned the horizon for a recognizable landmark. He picked out a mesa off in the distance: "If we keep heading towards that one mesa, we should be on the right track. It would be nice to know how long you walked after leaving the jagamon".
"I do remember that I was quite tired of walking", Juri pointed out. "I think I can guesstimate how long", she offered.
"It's not as much as I'd like to go on", Impmon explained, "but I don't see any alternatives that look better. I suggest that we all keep an eye out for that village. As I recall, they weren't none too eager to advertise their presence".
0xFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
Impmon kept them on course, and Juri decided to walk the distance, as she'd done before to roughly time the trip.
"You said that the Chuchidarumon built hemispherical houses?", Ruki asked.
"That's what they looked like", Takato replied, as Ruki was scanning the horizon with her field glasses.
"Well, that's what I'm looking at right now. Over there", as she pointed.
"We found it!", Jen exclaimed.
As they approached the village, they could see that it was much different. The houses the Iron Beast motorcycle had wrecked had been either rebuilt or the wreckage cleared away. The village also seemed cleaner, though the Chuchidarumon were still pack rats and junk collectors, they still had no sense of any sort of planning, as houses were still erected anywhere they pleased. No rhyme or reason as to where and how they stored their junk, and the odd dust packet. The domes still matching the color of the surrounding desert, still covered with odd bits and pieces of junk to break up their outlines from a distance. They still had an aversion to being discovered.
The major difference was that the Chuchidarumon were not hiding. The adults were out taking care of business; the children outside playing just like young kids everywhere.
"Takato's back! Takato's back!", a group of them ran off to spread the news. More Chuchidarumon leaned out open windows, appeared in doorways. As they stood in what passed for the village square, the village chieftain walked up to Takato, and embraced him. Then Juri and Jen.
"You returned to us", he said. "We've been expecting you, and I see you've brought more visitors".
"You didn't get to meet my little sister, Siuchon..."
"Hi. I'm Siuchon, and this is Ikkakumon", she completed Jen's introduction.
"...Or Lynxmon", Jen finished his introduction.
"Yes, and this is Lutramon", Takato introduced his guardian.
"I'm Kazu Shioda", he introduced himself, "and this is Mikemon"
"Kenta, Kenta Kitagawa, and Kyukimon".
"Ryo Akiyama and my associate: Lobomon".
"Ruki Makino. We were separated from the rest of our party, and didn't have the pleasure the last time we were here in the Digital World. May I present Harpymon".
"You already know me", Juri said, "but you haven't met my new partner: Shadowkitsumon".
"New partner? Last time you were here with that big guy, Leomon?"
"He... died", she said quietly.
"Let me guess: Zhuqiaomon", the chieftain replied. Juri could only nod in agreement. "My condolences for your loss, Juri".
"Thank you", she replied.
"Speaking of partners", Impmon said, "You haven't met Devidramon".
"Hi"
"Pleasure to meet you".
"Thanks for the hospitality"
The digimon guardians greeted.
"It's good that all of you could come to visit with us this time, and I wish you a more pleasant stay in this world of ours. I won't waste any more of your time on pleasantries, as I'm sure you are eager to get down to business. If you'll follow me". They didn't know what to expect, this cryptic business. Obviously, they were expected. Was it just that Takato had rescued them from destruction? Or did he know something more that they did not?
The chieftain didn't lead them to his home, as they expected. He led them to a different house, on the far side of the village, and what could have passed for a "suburb", if such a small village could be said to have suburbs. He knocked at the door, low and even with the ground. Another Chuchidarumon answered: "These are the ones we've been waiting for", the chieftain explained. This was a smaller home, so only Jen, Siuchon, and Lynxmon were invited in.
As with every other Chuchidarumon home, the main living space was mostly underground, and they stepped down a few steps into the main room. As was the chieftain's home, the interior decorating left a lot to be desired. Old computers and other old machinery and bits and pieces, boiler plate propped up on saw horses made for a dining table. Hammocks for sleeping, and in one at the back of the structure, lay a small dark figure. At first, they took this for another young one, though the appearance wasn't quite that of a very young Chuchidarumon. It noticed their arrival, and jumped to the floor.
"It's damned difficult to hold this form", it explained.
"Lopmon!", Siuchon exclaimed, as she scooped up the small digimon. "You don't know how much I missed you!"