Tamers West: Chapter 20

Tamers West
Chapter 20: Ghosts

Jeri sat on a rock overlooking the desolate plain that surrounded the tamers temporary sanctuary.

Jeri's vantage point was on top of a large crescent shaped rock formation that sheltered the Tamers and their digimon. She faced one direction while the ever vigilant Guardramon faced the other.

She was glad there was something else she could do. She knew they only brought her along to make her feel involved, so she wouldn't feel left out. While she appreciated their thoughtfulness she didn't want their pity.

She let out a sigh. If only there was a way she could have more power. If only she was stronger than she could do something.

"Hey Jeri", a nervous voice said softly.

Jeri turned her head and smiled at Takato who had climbed up from the ground to her.

"You should be asleep", Jeri told him.

"Oh uh, Gigimon's snoring kept me up".

Jeri rolled her eyes and shook her head.

"Do you need me to sing you a lullaby?", she teased.

Takato blushed.

"Uh, no thanks."

Jeri giggled. He was so easy to tease.

Takato sat beside her.

"See anything out there?"

She shook her head.

"No, not a thing."

Takato tapped his fingers.

"If you're tired I can take over for you."

Jeri raised an eyebrow at him.

"Takato I relieved you of guard duty only ten minutes ago."

He blushed fiercely.

"Oh was it only that long ago? I thought it was longer."

Jeri sighed.

"Why are you really here Takato?"

The goggled boy looked down at his feet not able to face her directly.

"You know you're still one of us right Jeri? You're still important to the team."

Jeri scowled inwardly despite her exterior smile. Like she thought before, she didn't want her pity but it hurt worse coming from Takato.

"You don't have to worry about me Takato I'm fine."

"Being part of the team isn't just about fighting", Takato continued unabated. "I mean after all before you even became a tamer you were considered part of the team! I know you might not think it and I know it doesn't feel like it right now but please believe me you're important."

He was looking right into her eyes now his own burning with zeal.

Jeri smiled, for real this time.

"Thanks Takato I needed that."

"Oh, well it's just the truth", Takato said blushing. He had surprised himself with his passionate speech.

"Now go back down and get some sleep", Jeri said firmly. "Or I'll tell your mother once we get back."

Knowing the threat was quite real Takato hurried down but paused for a moment.

"Goodnight Jeri."

Jeri nodded.

"Goodnight Takato."

As Takato went the rest of the way down Jeri looked back out over the expanse of desert and wondered. If she couldn't help fight then what could she do?

Then out of the corner of her vision she saw something shining near the base of the rock.

She briefly considered calling the others but decided against it. If it turned out to be nothing than she would just annoy them. After a quick check of the surrounding area she decided it was safe and carefully climbed down the rock to investigate the light.

Now much closer the light resembled a star or like the light that came from the portal to the digital world but without the pixilation. She had a sudden urge to reach out and touch it, but should she?

She didn't know much about the digital world despite all the time they spent here last time and who knows what might have changed since the D-Reaper left. Still...

She reached out with a tentative hand ever so slowly inching it towards the light. She could feel a faint warmth radiating from it, it was almost soothing, and it helped to reduce her fear but not her caution.

Finally her fingers brushed the light source but it wasn't solid, just warm. Feeling braver now she used her full hand to touch the light and was suddenly enveloped by burst of black energy.

She looked around and found herself surrounded by and inky blackness and she felt a pool of warmth in her abdomen, and then a great pain.

She cried out and something black burst out from her stomach and began to take form in front of her.

Jeri clutched her stomach as the pain subsided and looked at the transforming blackness with anxiety.

The blackness had now become a humanoid shape and began to better define it's features into a feminine shape. As the finer details became more clear she suddenly recognized the figure before her as herself.

Her doppelganger had a paler complexion and darker hair but when it opened its eyes they shone with a faint golden glow.

It, (or rather she) looked at Jeri and smiled.

"Hello. It's nice to meet you."

Her smile was genuine but unpleasant.

"Who-who are you?" Jeri asked shakily.

"You can call me Reji", she said as she floated closer. "And I'm you. Well a part of you anyway."

Jeri stopped shaking and was suddenly curious.

"What do you want?"

Reji's smile broadened and she floated closer.

"Why to help you of course."

"Help me with what?"

Reji brought their faces closer.

"You want to be stronger don't you? You want to be able to help your friends instead of being a burden like you have been."

Jeri cringed as Reji spoke. Her words stung deep.

"But more than that you want to be strong so that Takato will notice you. So that he'll want you."

Jeri blushed furiously.

"No-no you got it wrong it's not like that-"

Reji placed her hand over Jeri's mouth silencing her.

"I'm you remember. You can't hide anything from me. I know your every thought, and your deepest darkest secrets."

Jeri started trembling.

"Now now you don't need to worry I'm part of you so everything I do is for your benefit as it's in my own best interest as well. Don't worry though I genuinely care for you."

Jeri swallowed.

"Wha-what do I do?"

Reji shrugged.

"Right now, go back to guard duty. You're not ready yet to begin exploring the power that you have. Don't worry though, you won't have to wait long."

She turned away and started to leave.

"I'll see you again soon Jeri."

She looked back and grinned.

"Really soon."

Reji then faded to black and vanished and the darkness around her began to dissipate revealing the stark expanse of the digital world.

Jeri looked around and saw no sign of Reji, only barren wasteland. She turned around and climbed back up to her guard position on the rock. Once there she thought back to her brief conversation with Reji.

Was she really a part of herself or was she actually someone trying to deceive her and use her like the D-Reaper had done.

She sat down and mulled it over. If what Reji said was true than wasn't it best for everyone that she should become stronger? She had to admit though it seemed a bit too good to be true. And then the other reason.

She looked down at the others sleeping, specifically Takato who lay clutching Gigimon protectively. It brought a smile to her face. He was even sweeter in his sleep.

She couldn't deny her feelings for Takato. They were there and they were strong. She wanted to be the woman that he wanted, one that he deserved. She had to become stronger not just for her sake but for Takato as well and for everyone. She would not be a weak link.

She gazed up at the world slowly rotating above them wistfully.

"Soon she said."
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Richard struggled to find his more rugged clothing among the disaster that was his bedroom.

It was the weekend now but that didn't mean a break. Jeff had called only moments ago waking him from his late sleep. Apparently they had a great lead to Elle's captors and they wanted all the help they could get.

Finally he found all the clothing articles he needed and made his way to the door. As he passed the kitchen he stopped.

His sister was seated at the counter feeding the small red creature that he and his father had brought home the other night.

As expected his mother had been much less than pleased at how late they had arrived home but as they hoped the needy creature had distracted her getting them off the hook.

"Did it just wake up?" he asked his sister.

His sister Abigail or "Abby" was a year younger than he was and had the same dark brown hair and hazel green eyes as their mother. She was an accomplished gymnast having won several ribbons and medals. She often acted tough but she had a soft and gentle heart as she was currently displaying.

She smiled as the tiny bat winged creature munched on some fruit that Abby had brought and appeared stronger than it had when they found it in the hanger.

"How's it doing?", Richard said a little louder after failing to get his sisters attention with his first query.

Abby looked up apparently just noticing him.

"It's doing fine. He woke up a little while ago. Definitely better at waking up in the morning than you."

"He also went to sleep earlier than me", Richard shot back.

"Whatever. You going out?"

"Yeah I'm meeting my friends from school and we're going somewhere. I have the cell if you need me."

"When have I ever needed you?", she mocked.

"How about when you fell face first in that mud pit and I had to pull you out before you drowned?"

"Just go!" She shouted.

"Going", Richard said as he left.

While it was true that Abby had a bit of a short fuse she was still a kind and gentle girl when it came down to it. For some reason that escaped him she rarely showed it unless he was around. At least that's what he knew from other peoples testimonies. But of course women were an unsolvable mystery.

'Now I just have to meet Hanse and we'll set off.'

Richard almost couldn't believe what he was doing. Jeff had called him earlier that they had found a clue to Elle's whereabouts and wanted help checking it out.

Richard was rather surprised at this. He knew that they were deeply worried about Elle's disappearance but doing their own investigation like this was dangerous. Nonetheless his sense of curiosity and adventure that had attracted him to flying now drew him in down this path. It didn't hurt that Hanse was going too.

Richard found this a bit odd for Hanse's calm gentle nature but his best friend was an enigma, very unpredictable.

Richard was still nervous about the location at which they would be meeting right in the middle of down town but felt much better about everyone else being there with him. Still he couldn't shake this feeling that something was going to happen.
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Amy tapped her foot impatiently has she searched through news blogs about some of the less news worthy occurrences in the city, hoping to find some sort of clue to link up with what she had found in the basement of that shop.

She had been sitting at her computer for several hours and had come up with little except an increase in gang activity. Hoping that was a clue she had refined her search but thus far little had come up that was of any apparent relevance. Still the best news stories were often the ones buried under everything else.

Suddenly she came upon an interesting title. "Gang Ghosts."

Although not apparently relevant to what she was looking for it was different from everything else she had come upon thus far so she clicked it and hoped for something interesting.

The blog talked about gangs trying to spy on recent activity in a seemingly abandoned factory only to be scared away by ghosts that were apparently working at the factory.

Amy tapped her chin thoughtfully and remembered earlier blogs referring to increased gang activity over someone unknown moving into the area each thinking the other was responsible.

Amy went back and reviewed some of those earlier blogs and was able to deduce the location.

An eager grin spread across her face.

"Now I'm finally getting somewhere!"

The same thrill that had filled her when she discovered the secret passage in the store once again filled her. She grabbed her keys and headed to her car eager for another discovery.
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Commandramon crawled on his belly to the edge of the flat roof of an abandoned building his senses on high alert for anything nearby.

He cautiously peered over the edge and scrutinized the target building.

Jeff said it was an abandoned factory but he didn't know what used to be built there. It had been abandoned before even his parents birth.

The building was still intact though. The bricks had turned a mottled brown but there were no visible weaknesses in the walls. Most of the window had been broken and replaced by plywood. To a soldier like him it was a fortress hiding in plain sight.

"You see anything?"

He heard Jeff's voice as if her were right next to him, but he wasn't. Jeff was using their digivice to communicate with him. Commandramon had no idea how or why it worked and he found it freaky at times but it was convenient and after some tests they confirmed that he was the only one who could hear Jeff's voice.

"No activity outside the building", he reported. "Most of the windows are boarded up though so I can't see inside."

"Probably too much reflection to see in anyway", Jeff commented. "I've checked the sheds and there's nothing there, at least nothing that hasn't been there for the last fifty years or so."

"Can we assume then that everything's in the main building."

"Most likely. Mike called in a minute ago. There's nothing on their side either but Dokunemon's sneaking in for a closer look."

"That's risky", the cyborg dino said. "We're just scoping the place out we don't want to give ourselves away. Black Gatomon would be better."

"She's not here yet and Mike said he can do it so we're gonna have to let him do it. I really want him to join our team."

Commandramon sighed. He had to admit gaining allies sounded good with such powerful digimon coming to face them. Fortunately there hadn't been any encounters since Dokunemon's battle with Stingmon. What's more Dokunemon had proven himself capable of digivolution, the coveted gift all digimon sought. He himself hoped that soon he would be able to digivolve.

"Dokunemon's on the roof", Jeff's relayed to him.

Commandramon looked through his rifle scope and was able to see the tiny larva digimon peering in through the roof mounted windows strait into the building interior.

Commandramon steeled himself in preparation for his tiny green ally getting spotted his sights set in Dokunemon's area ready to shoot anyone who appeared behind him.

Dokunemon stayed for only ten seconds before retreating back to Mike's position.

Commandramon watched the building in case anyone or anything came out to investigate as he waiting for Jeff to relay the intelligence. He soon did, in one word.

"Bakemon."

Commandramon scowled.

"Great."
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Richard and Hans waited in an empty courtyard out of sight from anybody on the street for the arrival of Alice and Xander.

Richard looked over at Hans who was staring at his portable GPS.

"You sure this is the right place?"

Hans shrugged.

"This place matches the coordinates Xander gave me."

Richard frowned. Xander had given all of them a set of specific instructions. They had to meet up right here out of sight, they had to wear neutral clothing with only white or black clothing with no symbols of any kind short of brand trademarks.

Hans wore dark grey sweat pants and a T-shirt while he himself wore a white shirt and black pants.

"This all seems unnecessary", Richard commented.

"Not around here it isn't", Xander said as he and Alice appeared in the courtyard. "I couldn't risk you wearing any gang colours."

This got Richards full attention.

"Gang colours? We're in gang territory?!"

"I don't know if you've noticed Richard but this isn't exactly Park Avenue."

"But this is dangerous!", he protested. He was hoping Hans would jump in but his friend remained his strong silent self as if he had known what they were getting into all along.

"If you listen to what I say and if you avoided any distinguishing colours then everything should be fine."

Alice also seemed to have followed his instructions well. She wore a pair of jeans with a grey shirt with dark blue sleeves; they would look black from a distance. She had even swapped out her blue ribbons for black ones. Looped over her shoulder was a large black handbag. Not the most useful accessory for what they were about to do.

Xander wore a dark charcoal grey long sleeved shirt and dark brown jeans. He also wore fingerless gloves and a black cap.

"Anyway let's get going. Mike and Jeff are already staking the place out and we have to hurry."

He reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a portable radio.

"Xion reporting: met legion proceeding to the club, out."

Xander waited until he heard two bursts of static then pocketed the radio.

"Let's go then. We don't want to spend too much time in one place."

Richard just shook his head in disbelief.

"What have I gotten myself into."

The group started walking down the street, silent and purposeful. Richard and Alice kept looking around as if expecting a posse of armed gang members to burst out of every corner and garbage pile.

"Stop that", Xander said harshly. "It makes you look vulnerable."

"Xander, there are four men in green heading towards you." Tech warned.

Tech was moving on the rooftops keeping watch while trying to be unnoticed himself.

Xander cursed under his breath. They were in a fairly open area at the moment despite the mounds of trash and rubble stacked around them but lines of sight were long.

Xander turned his head slightly and glanced to his right.

There were four men, or rather youths in their mid or late teens walking casually towards them.

"Everyone stay casual keep looking and walking ahead."

Tension went up among everyone else but they obeyed looking straight forward as if everything was fine.

"Hey you!"

They froze though Xander stopped more calmly and casually. They would have to handle this carefully.

"Aren't you kids a little far from your moms."

The one in the lead wore a green hoodie with his hood up and his hands in the pouch pocket. The others wore a mix of green shirts and pants.

"We're just passing through.", Xander said.

The leader grinned.

"Yeah but see, there's a toll you have to pay for going through our turf.", he said as he eye Alice's handbag.

Xander sighed.

"I see. Alice, let him check your bag."

Alice looked at him horrified but Xander looked at her sternly.

Reluctantly Alice unzipped her bag the rest of the way and let the punk put his hand into the bag not noticing Xander's slight lean towards them.

"Ouch!"

The punk suddenly drew back and stepped away.

"Something bit me!"

Xander shrugged.

"I never said you'd like what was in there."

The punk grabbed Xander by his shirt collar.

"Maybe I should just beat the money out of you instead."

There was a flash of motion from Xander arm and suddenly the punks eyes went wide and he slowly released Xander with his hands up.

"Now look man I don't want any trouble."

Xander reached out and grabbed the punk by his hoodie.

"No you just wanted to cause it didn't you."

The others suddenly realized that Xander was holding a knife blade up to the punks neck. When the punk had leaned forward to reach into Alice's handbag Xander and discreetly reached inside his hoodie pouch and taken his two inch knife.

"I bet you thought you were rather tough, but you're not. You want to know what I see in your eyes right now?", Xander asked darkly. "It's not firm resolve or integrity like someone tough would have. I see only fear and terror."

His allies tried to move in to help but Xander spotted them.

"One move and the sidewalk gets painted red."

They froze, caution and fear in their own eyes.

"Now if you guys want out of this situation you will run away and leave us alone. NOW!"

The three punks ran off more out of fear of their leader being killed then their own lives.

"Hey wait!"

Xander pulled the punk closer.

"If you want to live then you will do the same. Scram!"

Xander released him and the punk ran after his fellow gang members.

"Twerp", Xander muttered.

He pocketed the blade and turned to the others.

"Everyone all right?"

The others just stared at him bewildered.

"We're fine", Hans said breaking the silence.

"Good. Let's go before they call friends as stupid as they are."

"I'm surprised they caved in so easily", Hans commented.

Xander snorted.

"They're all green. They don't have the experience or intellect to deal with such situations. If they did they wouldn't be in a gang in the first place."

Richard looked over at Alice.

"So what do you have in your handbag Alice?"

Alice smiled and opened up the handbag and a small white furry creature poked it's head out.

"This is Xiaomon", she said. "He doesn't have a neck so I can't put a collar on him."

The other two stared at the creature.

"What's the matter?", Xander asked them jokingly. "Never seen a digimon before?"

The other two were flabbergasted, even Hans was noticeably shocked.

"You don't think we would go snooping around this area without some high cards did you?"

Richard tried to speak but he could only stammer.

"But wait y-you. I mean y-you're."

"Tamers?", Alice finished for him. "Yes though we're trying to keep it a secret. We're letting you guys in on it because you came to help us and it's much easier than keeping it a secret."

"Let's keep going", Xander said. "The others are waiting for us."
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Elle was only dimly aware of her situation, or at least part of it. She was lying on a flat surface in a well lit room, but her vision was so blurry that she could only make out colors, even basic shapes were beyond her ability at the moment.

Her instincts told her she was in danger, that she should try to get out, but for some reason she didn't care. She was drugged heavily, she knew that even if she could muster the will she was in no condition to do anything.

Another indistinguishable shape appeared over her and the incomprehensible noises suddenly coming through the hearing part of her brain made her believe it was speaking to her. Of course she couldn't understand it.

When it stopped speaking she became dimply aware of something piercing her arm and with what little logic she could conjure from her drug addled brain determined she'd been given a shot of some kind, a fact confirmed as her vision was swallowed up by darkness and her brain at last rested.


From behind glass windows The Master and Darwin watched as the doctor began to work on the girl that would become the template for their newest scheme.

"And so begins the beginning of yet another delicious endeavor", The Master said evilly.

Darwin nodded.

"And this is just the start. If this works as well as we hope then the rewards will be immense, a near monopoly, and the beginnings of an empire.

The Master crossed his arms confidently.

"A delicious prospect indeed."

Darwin stepped off to the side.

"Let's go back and have some wine and return when the doctor is finished."

"An excellent suggestion", the Master agreed.
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Near the abandoned factory the group was at last gathered together. They had rendezvoused behind one of the decrepit storage sheds behind the main factory building.

"No activity on the outside at all", Jeff reported. "Only two entrances: one near the front where the offices used to be and by the loading dock. Dokunemon managed to get a look inside."

Mike then took his turn.

"There's digimon running this place, mostly Bakemon from what we could see but there's some others that we couldn't recognize."

Xander frowned.

"With our forces so limited I really don't want to walk into any surprises. Not all ultimates are the size of Godzilla."

"Maybe Commandramon and I should stay outside and keep watch."

Xander shook his head.

"No that's their job."

He gestured to Hans and Richard behind him.

"We're going in pretty much blind so we're going to need to concentrate our fighting power so we should also go in the same entrance. I think the loading dock would offer the best way in."

"There'll be more of them there", Jeff argued. "Going in through the front will allow us to better maintain the element of surprise."

"If we surprise them at the loading dock we can take more of them out at once and we'll have more room to maneuver."

"But will have less cover", Jeff countered.

Mike stepped in with his suggestion.

"Maybe Dokunemon and I should go in through the top and you guys go in through the loading dock. That way we can provide support. I got a card that's perfect for the job."

"Can you get in without being seen?" Jeff asked.

"Definately."

"We're here too ya' know."

Richard said crossing his arms.

Xander reached into his pocket and pulled out a walkie-talkie.

"You guys are going to go on that roof over there and keep watch outside while we go in. Use the radio to contact us but maintain silence until you here lots of noise inside. This is important we don't want to be unprepared if they bring in reinforcements or the cops."

Richard cringed.

"Saying that you make it sound like we're doing something criminal."

"Technically we are since this is arguably a form of vigilantism."

Richard winced.

"I have a feeling this isn't going to end well."

"Stay positive" Mike said cheerfully. "Everything will work out."

Alice gently set down Xiaomon on the ground and adjusted her bag.

"So then, is everyone ready?"

"Absolutely", the three male tamers responded.

Richard shrugged.

"I suppose as ready as we'll ever be."

Hans remained his quiet self and simply looked ready.

"Okay than I guess we'll start."


For a while the 'infiltration' group consisting of the tamers waited for the 'lookout' team of Richard and Hans to get into position on the roof of a nearby former office building.

"Okay we're in place", Richard called over the radio.

Alice would be holding onto the walkie-talkie for the infiltration team. She pressed on the talk button and responded as best she could.

"Uh, roger maintain radio silence until engagement."

There was a long pause on the other end until Richard responded.

"Okay."

Alice put the radio back into her bag and looking up noticed all the boys and their digimon staring at her.

"What?"

Mike reached over and patted her on the head.

"You're so cute Alice."

The others smirked and started moving on with Alice and her burning cheeks in tow.



From their position on the roof Richard and Hans could see them creeping cautiously but swiftly across the open ground towards the loading docks and the door that would take them inside.

"They sure are taking this seriously", Richard remarked.

"They're going into an old building filled with digimon of unknown numbers and strength in hope of finding clues to the location of their best friend. I think they would be foolish not to take it seriously."

Richard glanced over at his Germanic friend.

"Touché."

The two boys tensed as the infiltration team neared the door that would take them inside the loading dock until they reached an iron ladder and Mike started to climb with this worm like partner clinging to his back. They way he moved though he didn't seem to mind or notice the extra weight.

Once he had slipped over onto the roof the others resumed their approach to the loading dock pedestrian door. Xander's human like partner in the lead followed by Xander himself then Alice and her dog-like digimon with Jeff and his cyborg partner bringing up the rear.

Tech reached out and grasped the door handle but couldn't open it. Jeff switched places with him and from their position the two lookouts guessed that he was trying to pick the lock.

Jeff took little time and slowly creaked the door open. He waited until all the others had gone through and then went through himself. Now all they could do was wait and see.


From his position on the roof looking in through the window Mike could make out the blurry shapes of the Bakemon moving boxes throughout the loading dock. He couldn't see where the others were but he spotted a catwalk that would allow him to get down to the main floor.

Dokunemon had succeeded in prying one of the nearby windows open with his beak allowing Mike to get his fingers in a position to pull it open.

They both cringed as the window squeaked open and paused to check for any reaction from the Bakemon. None, they continued on with their task oblivious to the intruders.

Mike squeezed through the small opening and then quietly climbed onto the catwalk below.

From this new position he could see the Bakemon much more clearly than through the filthy glass and he spotted the others creeping in through what looked like another small office like space. Probably where all the orders and invoices had been handled.

Jeff looked up at him and nodded slightly. Mike returned the nod indicating that they could see each other. It also indicated that if any of the Bakemon looked up they would see him through the grated floor of the catwalk.

Reaching out with all his senses Mike could hear the flowing and boiling of liquids and the crumpling of plastic bags being packaged. He could hear it coming from immediately beyond the shipping receiving section that was merged with the loading dock. An inefficient design he noted.

He looked back down at the others who were peering through cracks between the stacked crates.

In total there weren't all that many for such a huge space, only slightly over a hundred perhaps one-fifty, but they were all stacked together which from the others perspective would make it seem like there was far more.

Mike silenced his thoughts as some of the Bakemon began to converse.

"I can't wait till we bring over some more help from the digital world" one said as it slumped onto one of the crates. I'm one pooped spook."

"At least we got Rose to keep our spirits up", another said.

"We are spirits", a third interjected.

A stupid grin spread over the first one.

"Ah Rose. A ghost made not of torn sheets but of the unspoiled fabric or a queens robe."

"Stop that!" a voice shouted from the factory.

Another ghost appeared, like a Bakemon but it had a witches hat on its head that was so big it fell over its eyes.

"A Soulmon", Dokunemon said sickly. "What's a vile thing like that doing here?"

"Get off your rag and get back to work or I'll make sure you never see Rose again! We have a schedule to keep and the Master doesn't like it when work get behind."

Gulping the Bakemon quickly went back to their duties and the Soulmon who was clearly an authority of some type floated back to the factory floor.

Mike leaned towards Dokunemon.

"This 'Rose' sounds like something real different from these guys. Do Bakemon have a separate female species?"

"Not that I'm aware of. I'm sure that 'Baka-mon' was just fantasizing. I haven't seen one of those things yet that didn't look disturbing."

Mike looked back down at the others and Xander gave him the signal to begin.

Mike nodded and took out the card he had slipped into his pocket when he had earlier separated it from his deck.

"You ready?"

Dokunemon nodded and leapt off the catwalk towards the midst of the stacking ghosts.

Digimodify: Cyclone Activate!

As Dokuneomon plummeted to the floor he spun around rapidly and a vortex formed around him spreading out in all directions. Stunned the Bakemon were slammed by the attack being shoved against the walls and into the stacks of boxes.

The instant the attack ended the others burst from hiding and attacked the stunned Bakemon deleting them swiftly.

Suddenly the Soulmon returned to investigate the disturbance.

"What's going on-Intruders!!!"

Dokunemon lunged at him but Soulmon dodged to the side and then attacked the rest of the party.

Necro Magic

A swirl of green energy flew at them but Xiaomon stepped in front and with a shrill bark cancelled out the attack.

Plasma Bolt

Tech's attack knocked Soulmon over Dokunemon and into the factory floor beyond the shipping/receiving area.

"Keep moving", Jeff yelled.

They moved deeper into the building and were instantly attacked by the horde of ghosts inside.

Just by reflex Jeff grabbed a nearby steel bar and swung it at one of the charging Bakemon knocking it aside.

They suddenly came upon the realization that the Bakemon were weak digimon, weak enough that a human could attack them effectively. Xander quickly grabbed a prop rod and Alice a 2x4. Mike also joined them already holding pipe wrench and they quickly joined in the fight invigored that they could at last fight alongside their partners.

The Soulmon managed to prop itself up and viewed the carnage as his army of spooks crumpled beneath the combined might of four humans and their digimon.

"Being beaten by humans", it growled. "I'll never live this down if it gets out."

Quickly it left the immediate scene of battle and entered one of the storage rooms and approached a sheet covered object standing alone in the corner of the room. It yanked the dust covered sheet off exposing the strange item.

It resembled a stone alter with circuitry visible beneath its glossy translucent outer layer.

Soulmon flipped down a panel on the front of the alter exposing a large red button. He was not to press it except in the most dire of situations.

"If I don't do something I'm deleted anyway", the Soulmon muttered grimly.

With nothing to lose he pushed the button and flew off outside the building as the alter began to charge with energy.

"Let's see how you handle this humans."


At this point in the battle the remaining Bakemon had begun to flee realizing the futility of their defense and passed through the walls to the outside.

Now alone the panting Tamers and their digimon switched to the job of searching the building for clues.

"I'll check the office", Mike said as he ran to the end of the building.

"We'll check here than", Alice replied.

With the Bakemon gone the factory floor revealed itself.

The steaming and bubbling were coming from large brushed steel furnaces with pipes sprouting out from the top and branching out into small hoses that leaked into what appeared to be heat presses.

Upon closer examination the presses appeared to turn the liquid coming from the hoses into orange pellets. Alice pulled out their sample from her handbag and confirmed it.

"This is the place alright", Xander said.

"Over here", Jeff called from the other end of the room.

Where Jeff was standing were nearly a hundred clear plastic bags filled with a strange grass like product.

"Pot?", Jeff guessed.

Xander shrugged.

"Not entirely sure but it definitely isn't lawn mulch."

Alice reached out for a bag and tore open the surprisingly flimsy packaging. She reached in her hand and pulled out a handful then gave it a sniff.

"Doesn't smell special at all."

"I don't think that's the street product", Jeff said. "They probably grind it up and mix it with something else."

"We'll take a bag of both any, just to see if we can find out what they are." Xander said. "From what I can guess it gets mixed in to the liquid they make the pellets out of."

Suddenly all the digimon perked up and Xiaomon started growling.

"What's going on?" Xander asked his partner.

Suddenly a fog swept through the building, one that they instantly recognized.

"It's a digital field!" Xander exclaimed.

"We gotta bail", Jeff yelled.

Xander called out to Mike and Dokunemon at the other end of the building.

"Mike Evacuate! Evacuate!"

The wall suddenly burst as a massive black form smashed through it.

"Run!", Commandramon yelled.

The tamers ran as flames erupted behind them consuming the equipment and narcotics in an inferno that threatened to consume the entire building.

They burst out the door from which they came and ran for cover behind the storage sheds. No sooner did they reach the sheds than the loading dock explode as the massive black form emerged from the collapsing factory.

"Ah it's Dark Tyranomon!" Commandramon yelled. "Watch out these guys are nuts; they'll attack anything that moves!"

"That thing's Champion level. How are we supposed to beat that?", Jeff yelled.

"And where's Mike?", Alice asked.


Amy was still trying to drive into the centre of the city the brutal traffic resulting from all the road works drastically slowing her progress until she finally managed to get onto the back streets away from the main streets.

"Where is it", she wondered to herself. She knew it was around here somewhere.

A plume of dust and smoke appeared over the buildings catching her immediate attention. Her investigative instincts told her she needed to go there, and it was most likely where she needed to go anyway.

With a renewed sense of purpose she accelerated through the streets to the rising cloud of dust and smoke beyond.


Dark Tyranomon roared and lumbered towards the tamers hiding behind the storage sheds.

Commandramon bravely hurled a grenade at the towering black behemoth but the explosion went barely noticed by the lumbering giant.

The tamers immediately abandoned their positions as Dark Tyranomon incinerated the sheds with its fiery breath. It cried out loudly as it gave chase stomping through the burnt out remains of the storage sheds kicking up debris and sending it flying.

Tech used his shield to block some of the incoming debris from hitting them but at the same time they all wondered what they could do against this immense foe.

Plasma Bolt

Tech's attack slammed into Dark Tyranomon's nose sending its head reeling back and stopping its advance allowing the tamers to gain some distance.

"We need a plan", Commandramon said as they ran. "We can't just keep running."

They hid behind another building and the tamers pulled out their card decks in an attempt to figure out a strategy. As they shuffled through them however they frowned. Their collections were meager even with the recent additions from their purchases at the comic shop.

"I don't think anything we got's going to be enough", Jeff said worriedly.

"Unless one of them is named 'Miracle' I don't see how it would make a difference anyway", Commandramon stated.

"No choice then", Tech said. "We have to fight him head on."

He burst from hiding and launched another Plasma Bolt at Dark Tyranomon's head.

"We'll I'm not letting him be the hero". Commandramon followed firing his assault rifle furiously as he ran.

Dark Tyranomon swept Tech aside and shot a blast of flame from his mouth to run down the cyborg dino.

Reacting quickly Jeff pulled out a card.

Digimodify: Hyperspeed Activate

With the burst in speed Commandramon was able to keep ahead of the stream of fire that threatened to roast him like a duck.

Distracted Dark Tyranomon had forgotten about Tech.

Light Spear

Tech jammed his staff into the back of Dark Tyranomon's head causing the creature to howl out in pain.

Commandramon seized his opportunity and hurled a grenade into its open mouth.

The monster roared in pain as the grenade exploded and then backed against a building and smashed the back of it head against the wall to remove Tech but he suddenly appeared right in front of him.

"Nice try."

Instantly Dark Tyranomon blasted him with fire and smacked him far away. Then began to pursue Commandramon who used the last of his hyperspeed to gain some distance and began firing at him from as far away as possible but Dark Tyranomon went after him crying out as he pursued him.

From their vantage point Richard and Hans watched as the rampage of the digital godzilla continued. Commandramon running for cover and Tech returning from his involuntary flight to back up his team mate but the two just didn't seem to be doing enough damage.s

"How are they going to beat that monster?" Richard exclaimed!

"It's not a monster!"

Richard jumped at Hans sudden outburst. Raising his voice like that was uncharacteristic.

"Can't you see it's in pain. Can't you see it suffering."

Richard looked back at the dinosaur as it battled with the two other digimon that were hitting it as hard as they could and it looked like they were having some effect but how much longer could they keep it up.

"Well I don't think it's gonna' be suffering for too much longer once it tires them out."

Hans grunted in frustration and pushed himself up to his feet.

"Hans wait."

Richards call went unheeded as his friend bolted down the fire escape towards the ground.

"What's he doing?" Richard wondered aloud.

He looked back out onto the battlefield and noticed something on the street.

"Oh no."


Xander frantically looked through the cards in his deck most of them however were not modify cards they were digimon cards.

He growled in frustration. What could they do? Their digimon couldn't keep this up much longer, and there was no sign of Mike or Dokunemon.

Richards voice breaking over the radio suddenly broke his focus.

"Hey! There's a car over to the west."

Looking to the west the tamers saw a compact car roll up to the factory dangerously close to the digimon battle playing out.

"Oh crap!"

The car screeched to a halt upon seeing the massive black digital reptile the shrill sound catching Dark Tyranomon's attention. It turned around and sent a blast of flame at the tiny car.

Tech just in the nick of time teleported onto the cars roof and put up his shield blocking the devastating stream of fire.

"Hurry and back away!", Xander yelled at the driver even though they probably couldn't hear him.

Still the driver soon recovered and with a screech from its front wheels the car backed away as fast as it could.

Dark Tyranomon roared and pursued.

"We gotta do something!" Jeff yelled desperately.

Suddenly Hans burst from behind one of the buildings and placed himself between Dark Tyranomon and the reversing car.

"Stop!", he yelled at the enormous lizard. His eyes held not a trace of fear, his stance neither hesitant nor weak-kneed.

"What is he doing?" Jeff asked bewildered. In fact they were all too shocked to even think. Even Richard who knew Hans the most just lay at his post shaking his head and saying to himself:

"He's drunk, he's got to be drunk."

Fortunately Dark Tyranomon was just as baffled as the rest of them.

"I understand what you're feeling", Hans yelled up to the towering creature before him. "I understand your pain. I know how much it hurts."

Dark Tyranomon growled menacingly causing everyone to gulp in fear of Hans' life; but the German boy remained unwavered.

"I know how much it hurts! I know you think there's no forgiveness but there is. You can turn your life around, you can be free from the pain."

Dark Tryranomon bent down closer to him, its nose inches from Hans and its eyes still filled with barely contained rage and madness.

Commandramon could take no more and ran to intervene and hopefully save Hans life.

Suddenly something jumped in front of him forcing him to halt mid-step almost falling over.

"Dokunemon?"

"Don't interfere", the Larva digimon said firmly.

The others seemed to be doing the same, afraid that even the slightest move could result in Hans becoming a Frankfurter.

Gently Hans reached out and touched Dark Tyranomon's rough black skin causing everyone's tension to spike waiting and wondering what would happen next.

Hans looked up into the mad eyes of the enormous creature before him with his own firm, but understanding.

Then a soft glow seemed to envelop Dark Tyranomon and tiny particles seemed to be coming off its body. Gradually the glow intensified until it became blinding and now the particles were streaming off its body until finally it subsided and vanished.

Hans unshielded his eyes and no longer saw the massive form of the dinosaur like creature; but laying down at his feet was another much smaller dinosaur.

Another light though seemed to be shining from his pocket and he pulled out his GPS device just in time to see it transform before his eyes into a much sleeker and more streamlined design.

"What is this?" He wondered.

The others hurriedly ran over.

"Are you okay?" Alice asked him.

Hans nodded solemnly.

"Yes I'm fine."

"I don't think so", Commandramon interjected. "I think you might be insane."

"Let's not get into it right now" Xander interrupted trying to avoid an argument. "I just think we should all get out of here before the cops come."

"Hey!"

The driver of the car ran over.

"Say, what's going on here? Who are you kids?"

Jeff recognized the woman.

"Wait I remember you. You're Amy right? You were at Natalie's wedding."

Amy thought for a moment.

"Oh right I remember you. You're Elle's boyfriend."

The boys snickered at Jeff's expense.

"I'm not her boyfriend", he insisted.

"But you were the only one dancing with her all night." She said.

"All night", Mike emphasized.

"She doesn't need help from you", Jeff snapped. "What happened to you anyway?"

Mike shrugged.

"We got trapped under a desk when the ceiling came down. Took us a while to get out."

"Maybe we should talk about this later", Alice interjected. "We should probably take this guy to my house."

She was referring to the unconscious form of the former Dark Tyranomon. Now he appeared to be a Black Agumon.

"We can use my car", Amy offered.  

Alice smiled.

"Thank you. I'll show you the way."

Finally Richard appeared panting after running the entire distance from his look out post to their position.

"What did I miss?"

"Nothing much", Mike said. "You just have to help carry this guy to that car".

Richard looked down at the Black Agumon sprawled on the ground and then back up at the others.

"You're kidding right?"

"Better hurry", Xander said. "The cops'll be here soon. The three of us will take the bus back. We can blend in better here."

Richard sighed and helped Hans pick up and carry the miniaturized dino into the car with Alice carrying Xiamon close behind.

The three boys and their digimon waited until the car was gone before they began walking.

"Does this mean Hans is a tamer now too?", Mike asked.

"After what he did he's earned it", Jeff remarked. Can't really say the same for us though, it just sort of happened automatically."

He then looked back at Mike.

"Unless you and Dokunemon count as partners."

Mike and the small larva digimon hesitated.

"We're a team", Mike finally answered.

"Yes", Dokunemon agreed. "A team."

Then they heard a clapping sound echoing around them and they looked around trying to find the source.

"Very impressive humans."

They looked up and saw Soulmon on one of the nearby roof tops.

"But you haven't won yet."

Suddenly at least thirty Bakemon flew out of the windows and floated in the air over Soulmon's head.

The tamers quickly grabbed some items to use as makeshift clubs. Jeff a pipe, Xander a piece of wood, and Mike acquired a piece of railing from a ruined fire escape.

"You'll need more than that to take us on", Commandramon mocked.

Soulmon only grinned.

"You underestimate us."

The Bakemon began to swirl around in a vortex culminating at the top and molded together. There was a brief flash and suddenly there was a single large Bakemon with zombie like arms coming out of its sleeves.

"Now you're doomed", Soulmon cackled.

The now larger Bakemon charged at them.

Plasma Bolt

Tech sent a blast directly at the charging spirit but the ghost simple deflected the attack as if it were a tennis ball.

Hells Hand

Bakemon slashed at them and they just barely dodged it.

Grenade

Commandramon hurled a grenade directly at the massive spook but the ghost only sneered.

Poison Breath

The rancid breath blew the grenade away and right back at Commandramon where it exploded. Commandramon was blown back several feet by the explosion of his own attack.

Dokunemon moved in next to prevent Bakemon from doing a follow-up attack.

Poison Claw

Bakemon swatted away the tiny larva digimon and moved in to attack the still recovering cyborg.

Light Spear

Tech tried to strike from the side but Bakemon turned and grabbed him stopping the attack mere centimeters from its mark.

Tech simply teleported out of his grasp and a grenade suddenly appeared.

The grenade exploded right in Bakemon's face and Commandramon quickly followed-up with his assault rifle.

Poison Claw

Dokunemon struck from behind but the attack didn't do much damage and Bakemon instantly recovered.

Hells Hand

Bakemon swiped the tiny worm sending him flying into the remains of the factory.

"Dokunemon!"

Mike ran after him hoping to prevent his friend from being crushed by debris.

Plasma Bolt

Bakemon suddenly vanished just before the attack would have struck and the blast slammed into the sidewalk spewing up chunks of hot concrete.

Ghost Chop

Suddenly reappearing from behind Bakemon chopped at Tech sending him into a nearby wall, hard.

Commandramon blasted away with his assault rifle but Bakemon simply blocked the bullets with his palm and used his other hand to slap him aside.

Now Bakemon lunged forward and pinned Xander and Jeff to the pavement with his large disgusting hands.

Soulmon cackled long and loud.

"The end is now humans!"

Commandramon staggered to his feet hurt but not tired. He saw Bakemon pinning Jeff and Xander ready to finish them off. Visions of comrades being killed in front of him all the while he had been powerless to stop it, unable to do anything.
"Not again", he grunted. "I'm not letting it end like this again."

Suddenly a bright light surrounded him forcing Bakemon and Soulmon to pause and check to see what was happening.

Commandramon Digivolve too: Sealsdramon

The light faded and a shape instantly bolted forward and slammed into Bakemon at incredible speed. One would have missed it if they had blinked.

From their position across the street Mike and the unburied Dokunemon watched the turn in the tide of battle unfold. Mike brought out the analyzer and read out loud.

"Sealsdramon: Cyborg digimon. He's so fast that his two techniques 'Monoeye' and 'Assassination' are all he needs to bring down digimon many times his size."

Sealsdramon was much larger than Commandramon by at least two or three times. His face was covered by a mask with a red mechanical sensor over the right eye and he had two blade sticking out of his shoulders and one at the end of his full armored tail.

Bakemon recovered and disappeared again before quickly reappearing right behind Sealsdramon.

Ghost Chop

He chopped at Sealsdramon but the rotten hand passed through nothing but air.

Bakemon was suddenly slammed from behind and knocked into a wall and just barely dodged Sealsdramon's follow-up attack.

Jeff and Xander stood up and looked on in amazement. Sealsdramon was now single handedly smashing the enlarged ghost into wall on the ground anywhere. Bakemon simply could not get away.

Hells Hand

Bakemon tried to hit his lightning fast opponent but once again Sealsdramon was too fast and somersaulted over him.

"Now it's your end", he said.

Assasination

Sealsdramon brandished a knife and shoved into her enemy. Bakemon shrieked out like a tormented soul and dissolved into data leaving the battleground quiet once again.

Panicking Soulmon decided to leave.

"You haven't seen the last of me!", he declared.

He turned around and suddenly was skewered by a golden spear.

"I think we've seen the last of you", Tech said coldly.

At last the final opponent vanished into particles of data that soon evaporated into the air.

The group all gathered together and congratulated their savior.

"That was probably the coolest thing I've ever seen!", Jeff exclaimed.

"You rocked", Mike added.

"Ah that was simple", Seasldramon said confidently. "I could've beaten that oversized bed sheet in my sleep."

The wailing of sirens caught their attention.

"We gotta' get outta' here fast!" Xander yelled.

"Climb on", Sealsdramon directed. He grabbed Jeff in one arm, he grabbed Mike who was also holding Dokunemon in the other and Xander and Tech climbed onto his back.

"Hold tight."

Even with the extra weight Sealsdramon sped through the back alleys and streets putting as much distance between them and the scene as possible.

After about a travelling at least two kilometers Sealsdramon stopped and let everyone off.

"Just let me catch a quick breather here and I'll take everyone the rest of the way to Alice's."

"Actually I'm good here."

Everyone else stared at Xander.

"I have a place I need to go to. I might be able to find out some more information."

Mike and Jeff sighed.

"Whatever."

Sealsdramon picked up Jeff, Mike and Dokunemon and sped away towards Transcona.

"Another less scrupulous acquaintance of yours?" Tech inquired.

Xander smirked.

"Yes but I assure you far more pleasant than the ones you've seen thus far. You might even like her."

Tech paused for a moment.

"Is this that 'Noir' girl that was mentioned so much?"

Xander laughed.

"No, no, but she is a friend of ours. Don't worry you'll meet her someday."

Sighing Tech followed his Tamer as they trekked once again through the filthy and shady back alleyways of the inner city. Realizing that despite their bond so much of him was a mystery.