Digimon Fan Fiction ❯ Mystic Digital War ❯ Chapter 19: Search for the High Priest ( Chapter 19 )

A young woman with curly blond hair held a microphone close to her mouth as she spoke,"Zis is Catherine DeGual reporting live. For zose of you juzt joing us, ze mysterious Agnimon rescued a young woman from an attacker, while two government agents from Hypnos, were hot on his tail. Meanwhile, ze Hypnos leader, Yamaki, was almost assassinated by ze Digimon Empress, who was hired and equipped by Sam Ichijoji, whole stole ze technology from his former mentor, the rouge Monster Maker, Mizuno, called Shibumi, who went insane and was going to destroy ze world before he was killed.

Tai was having 'girl trouble', as he started to develop feelings for Anna, while Sora wanted a relationship with Tai, but he did not. She was later captured by ze Digital hunter Orion, who attacked her wiz a strange ray before she escaped.

Ze Digidestined had zeir hands full, as zey discovered zat Mimi was alive, but was somehow under ze Dark Digidestined's control.

Takato, feeling unsure about his self worth, followed ze Digimon Empress to Shibumi's hidden lab, where she stole a strange dark spiral. She also told Takato zat she knew him, and he was ze reason she became ze Digimon Empress.

Andromon went to Geni for information, when he announced zat he was now part of Neo-Digiworld and was intent on destroying humanity. He brought Andromon to ze Dark Ocean, where Geni was preparing an army for Apocalymon.

Back at Shibumi's lab, a mysterious girl emerged from a crygenic chamber, calling for Davis. As zis occurred, a mysterious winged man and a large dragon watched via a 'crystal ball', and when zis couple reveal zemselves, Tai and Matt's worlds will never be ze same again!

The sun shone brightly on the city below, reflecting off of its ivory gates, its streets of marble, and its towers of pure gold. It's citizens were magical beings, able to grow large white wings from their backs. They lived with the secrets of the land open to them, it was a paradise, all existing a full four millennia ago.

One of the winged inhabitants of the city slowed his flapping wings as he approached a balcony on one of the towers. He landed perfectly on his feet, as he folded his wings behind his back.

A perfect landing Master Darius."

The man looked to the right and saw a younger man walk to great him. "Amadaus," Darius said, placing a pair of tiny glasses on the ridge of his nose,"How is our project?"

"Well, sir," Amadaus said, leading him down the hall into a large, round room, filled with winged people working in what looked like a dozen blacksmith anvils, only with strange devices attached to them,"We've managed to combine the metals."

"What?" Darius asked, his eyes lighting up.

"Come," Amadaus said, guiding him over to one of the anveils, where a large black crystal was lying across it, glowing with dark light.

"Excellent!" Darius shouted,"My design worked perfectly!"

Amadaus bowed,"Perfectly, Master Darius."

"You have been very helpful," Darius said,"For an Otherworlder."

His companion smiled. "Those of us that are from the other world have unique power of our own."

"Yes, my friend," Darius said, patting his back,"And once we create more...artifacts, I promise, we'll grant some to the humans of Terra."

Amadaus nodded. "Yes," he thought,"but I only care about one artifact, the one I will use to create the most powerful monster, and this world will belong to me!"

Chapter 19: Search for the High Priest

Andromon felt consciousness dawn to him as his eyes automatically opened to the same black sky as before. "I must have fallen asleep," he muttered to himself, glancing to the glowing circles that were keeping his arms and legs bound to the side of the mountain,"I'm no better off than I was before."

He sighed, then started pulling on his bonds,"I've got to get out of here." He suddenly heard a loud clanging noise from below. He turned his gaze downward to the base of the mountain where it met the dark sand of the beach. On the shore of the black ocean, an army of fish creatures were working along side the water, using its dark powers to temper harpoons, feed to baby digimon, and create weapons of evil destruction.

"What are they doing?"

"They are preparing an army," Geni said, walking onto the cliff ledge,"We have orders to attack Earth."

Andromon's eyes opened wide. "When?" he demanded.

"As soon as we are told," Geni said, narrowing his eyes.

Andromon turned his gaze back towards the dark shore below. He gasped slightly as a massive squid-like creature with a human man on his shoulder emerge from a cave on the water's surface. "What is that?"

"The Commander of the Dark Ocean," Geni explained, watching with Andromon as the creature and human oversaw the preparation of the army," Charon, and his partner, Dragomon."

"Another human?" Andromon asked,"For someone who wants to destroy humanity, you sure alley yourself with many of them, traitor."

Geni smirked are in no position to talk, human-lover!"

Andromon frowned at him. "Geni, my friend, please, you must come back to us."

Geni crossed his arms. "I have chosen my side."

Andromon sighed again. "Then so be it." He closed his eyes and started groaning slightly, causing the bonds on his wrists and ankles to glow.

"Wh-what are you doing?" Geni shouted, jumping back.

"I am generating a emp around my wrists and ankles."

"An Electro-Magnetic Pulse?" Geni shouted,"But...that would..."

"Destroy these bonds!" Andromon shouted, ripping his hands and feet free. Geni reached for his sword, but, the surprise at Andromon's escape gave the cyborg digimon enough of a head start to tackle Geni to the ground. He then dove over the cliff and into the water. He started swirling to where his sensors indicated an anomaly in the energy feild-a gate. He never looked back, even when the Dark Ocean's army began to follow.

Riley glanced nervously at her watch, then back up at the run-down apartment building across the street."How long has this been going on?" she asked, looking down the line of police and military forces staring at the building as well.

"About three hours," Orion said, moving beside her,"Who would have thought that an internet terrorist would be in a run down apartment building."

"I know," Riley nodded, sipping her coffee,"It seems a little...ironic, huh?"

A man wearing a white uniform and jacket ran over to them,"Commanders," he saluted,"We are in position."

"Alright," Riley said, throwing her Styrofoam cup down. She grabbed a metallic gun from her holster and positioned it so it was pointing into the air,"Alright...Move!"

Riley and Orion moved in first, followed by the rest of the strike force. They charged through the run down halls and up the rotted stairs, hoping that the element of surprise would be enough against an internet criminal that could destroy their electrical equipment with a thought.

When they reached the apartment door, Riley nodded to Orion, who, in turn, nodded to the strike force. Riley raised her foot, then kicked it open, jumping inside with her gun pointed forward. Orion was close behind with his sword out. Inside, was a simple room, with a bed, television, and desk with a large computer system and someone standing in front of it, a very young person.

"Well I'll be," Orion said, holding his sword down,"The infamous Inter-terrorist Junepi is just some snot nose kid."

"An overweight one at that," Riley added, relaxing a bit.

The kid growled,"I'm more than just a kid!" he shouted, opening the palms of his hands. Orion suddenly fell over, yelling in pain.

"Orion!" Riley cried.

"My...my armor..." he hissed,"It's...I can't breath...."

"Interesting," Junepi muttered,"That armor is also a life-support system. Who are you?"

"He is entitled to his privacy!" Riley shouted, firing a blast from her gun. Junepi fell to the ground, clutching his wound.

"Wh..what did you do to me?"

"EMP pulse gun," she explained, as one of the members of the strike force walked over and clamped two round connected cylinders over Junepi's wrists,"highly effective against Digital beings. Junepi, you are under arrest."

Sora slowly opened her eyes,"Oh, man," she said, sitting up and rubbing the back of her head,"What happened to me?"

"I don't know," Biyomon said, stretching beside her,"I suppose you can't tell me why we spent the night in a dumpster, either."

"Oh man," she said again as she sat up,"W-what time is it? Mom's probably worried sick!"

She started running towards her apartment building, when Biyomon called to her,"Hey, where did you get that ring?"

"What ring?" Sora asked, glanced over her shoulder. She looked at her hands, then saw a metallic substance on her finger. She tried to remove it, but it was stuck fast. "It's not a ring, but I can't get it off. Maybe Mom has something at the apartment to get it off. Come on."

Sam Ichijoji jumped slightly as he approached the bordered up warehouse. "I always did hate this place," he muttered, glancing to the water in the harbor, the waves bobbing up and down,"That poluted water always gave me the creeps."

He shivered slightly, then walked to the large double doors of the warehouse. He strained for a second to remember the code, he had not been here in over 5 years, then pushed in the number sequence,: 4-9-7-13-15-14.

Remembering the extensive security lasers, he held his breath for a second, then the doors poped open. He let out the breath, then walked inside the building. He glanced up at the broken skylight, then at a large open chamber and shattered wooden crate.

"The Digimon Empress was here, alright," he sighed. He glanced over at the opened chamber, and felt his spin turn to ice. "What did she unleash?"

He examined the chamber for a second, then ran over to the left wall and a group of bricks that seemed newer than the rest. "This is Sam Ichijoji, Main computer activate, code:15-19-1-13-1."

The newer section of bricks slid apart, and a large metal computer terminal slide out. The screen flashed to life. "WELCOME, SAM ICHIJOJI."

Sam started typing on the keyboard, "STATUS REPORT."

"BREAK IN THROUGH TOP SKYLIGHT.

STOLEN DARK SPIRAL

EXPERIMENT #411925-D ESCAPED."

"What?" Sam asked,"What did Mizuno create here? He typed in the keyboard,"INFO: EXPERIMENT #411925-D."

The CPU hummed for a second, then the screen pulled up an extensive file. Sam's eyes opened wide as he read it. "DNA splicing?" he shouted,"containment cell for seven years? Extremely dangerous?" He started typing again,"HOW DO WE CAPTURE EXPERIMENT #411925-D?"

"LIKE THIS."

A beam of energy shot into Sam from a laser gun that dropped from the ceiling. He stumbled backwards, then screamed, the words TRAITOR, REVENGE, MIZUNO on the screen.

The girl slowly opened her eyes, stretching her arms as she glanced around the alley she spent the night in. "Daisuke," she thought,"Why can't I find you?"

She walked to the edge of the alley and stared at the morning sun. "I tried at our grandparents house, but it was destroyed by an earthquake or tornado or something. I know you survived, but, where are you? I have to find you."

She made sure she was presentable, then started to walk down the sidewalk. She shoved her hands deep into her pockets, and held her head low. She didn't know why, but she was certain she was being followed.

She suddenly became aware that the people were shouting and running past her. She turned around and saw a large, black serpent with wings flying towards her. She twirled back around and started running as fast as she could. She knew that the creature was after her.

The girl glanced over her shoulders and saw that there was a human riding on the dragon creature. "Who is that?" she thought. Unfortunately, since she was looking behind her and not in front, she ran into a garbage can, flipping over.He heart started beating ever faster."N-no!"

The human on the flying creature moved close enough that the girl was able to see him clearly. He was wearing a blue and black outfit with large yellow goggles. "Experiment #4191925-D," he called to her,"Return with me now, or be destroyed!"

"I-I'm not going anywhere with you!" she called, flinching back.

"You must be destroyed!" he shouted, forming a black whip in his hand.

Takato sighed deeply as he stared at the rising sun, from the roof of the apartment building. "I just feel so crappy!"

His digimon partner glanced up at him. "Huh?"

"Kasumi was killed, so it fell to me to lead the Digital Warrior Tamers, but I failed miserably."

"No, you didn't," Guilmon protested,"You're a good leader."

"I'm not," Takato sighed again,"I could never fill Kasumi's place. We've been in a downward spiral since I took over. I couldn't ever stop that Digimon Empress."

"You're not a failure," Guilmon said, sitting up,"If it wasn't for you, we wouldn't even be in this time!"

Takato sighed,"I'm not ever sure what to do about Uncle Tai."

"Why don't you tell him about Lady Sora?"

"Because, if I do, it might alter the future, for the worse. Forcing the two of them together might backfire and separate them forever. The only reason I told my parents and the other was because I needed them to trust me, and they could get Uncle Tai to trust us. The less people that know about us, the better."

"um, Takato," Guilmon mentioned to the sky,"There's something you should see..."

Takato looked up and saw a figure riding a dragon flying across their view. "The Digimon Empress!" he grinned,"Let's go!"

Guillmon digivolved to Wargrowlmon, then shot after the flying dragon,"She's not getting away this time!"

Takato grabbed tightly as his digimon maneuvered through buildings and tight alleys until they caught up with the figure on the winged serpent, who was now hovering over a young girl lying on a pile of garbage.

Takato jumped off of Wargrowlmon and onto the serpent. "Alright, Digimon Empress, now you're..." The figure turned around. Takato gasped,"You're not the Digimon Empress.."

"No, I'm not. You can call me the Digimon Kaiser!"

"K-Kasier?" Takato repeated, as his new enemy leapt forward and slammed his fist into Takato as he fell off of the serpent and into Wargrowlmon's hands.

"Are you okay?" his digimon asked.

"Yeah," Takato said, standing up.

The Kaiser looked over his shoulders and saw that the girl was gone. "My prey is gone," he turned around,"Maybe I'll take my frustrations out on you!"

He formed a whip in his hands, then flicked it forward, read to rip across Takato's chest, but, a ball of fire appeared, deflecting it. "Who threw that?" the Kaiser demanded.

"I did."

Everyone turned their attention to a figure standing on the roof of a nearby building. "Who are you?" the Kaiser demanded.

"I have no name," the figure said,"but, I have been called Agnimon."

"Agnimon?" Takato asked,"The on that saved that girl from the raper?"

"I help where I can," he said.

"Where does you allegiance lie?" the Kasier asked.

"I have none," Agnimon said, floating to Takato's side,"but, I am on the side of anyone who fights one who attacks defenseless little girls."

"Trust me," the Kaiser said,"She is not defenseless." He stared at Takato, Wargrowlmon and Agnimon,"Perhapse it would be best if we continue this later." His Aridramon flew away.

"We can't let him escape!" Takato shouted,

"I agree," Agnimon nodded,"Lead the way."

Kari slowly walked into the living room, surprised to see Tai standing in front of the mirror, modeling a black, three piece suit. "Morning, Tai," she said.

"Kari?" he called,"I'm glad you're awake. Tell me, how do I look?"

"Uh, fine," she said,"What's the occasion?"

"My date tonight with Anna."

"Oh," Kari said, a little nervous,"Tai, listen, I-ah, I want to talk to you about her."

Tai's smile faded. "What? You don't like her? You're the one that brought her to me."

"It's not that I don't like her-I do," Kari said, shifting uncomfortably,"It's just..maybe she's not right for you.."

"What?"

Kari took a deep breath,"I think you should patch things up with Sora."

"Sora?" Tai gapsed,"Sora?"

"Y-yes."

"Remember what she did to us?"

"She did what she felt was right, just like us."

"Well, maybe I was hard on her, but, it doesn't matter."

"Why?"

"Because,"Tai said, starting to pull off his tie,"Takato told me that I'm going to have a daughter soon. Anna's got to be the mother."

"Anna?" Kari blurted out,"What about..."

She stopped, remembering the promise she made.

Takato bowed slightly, "Please, Mom, Dad, and you others, you can't tell anyone else about the future. I've taken a great risk telling you. You can't tell anyone, and that means Uncle Tai about Lady Sora and Kasumi."

What about what?" Tai asked.

"N-nothing," Kari sighed,"But you've got to talk to Sora."

"Where is this all coming from?" Tai asked, raising his voice.

"I just think it's better for you to be with Sora," Kari shouted,"Just because you think Anna is pregnant..."

"What?" Tai asked,"What are you going to say? You're the most caring person I know!"

"Yes," she said,"but if I was pregnant..." She suddenly stopped, her body starting to shake as a cold feeling washed down her spine,"I..I..I.."

"Kari??" Tai asked, moving to place his hand on her shoulder, when she turned around and ran into her room.

Once her door was shut, she fell onto her bed, and started sobbing. All her problems crashed onto her shoulders. "I..I'm pregnant," she cried, into her pillow so Tai wouldn't hear,"I..I can't deal with this. What am I going to do?" She buried her face deep into her pillow and sobbed loudly.

She didn't know for how long she cried, but she soon heard a knock on the door,"Lady Kari?"

"Kazu," she thought," What is it?"

"Andromon wants to meet us in Restoration Hall. I have no idea where Takato is, but everyone else is ready."

Kari stood up. She dried her tears and took a few deep breaths, getting herself under control. "Okay," she opened the door,"Let's go."

"How about this one?" June asked.

Alice crossed her arms and scoffed at the red miniskirt and white tank top. "I don't enjoy bright colors."

"Why not?" she asked, placing the outfit in front of her and looking in the mirirors,"It looks good."

"Bright colors draw too much attention," Alice said, moving towards the black colored clothes at the end of the wrack.

"Well, if you don't want it, I guess I'll get it," June said, checking the amount of money in her purse,"I've get enough left for a pair of shoes, I wonder if any match..."

Alice ignored June as she fished through a selection of shoes. The blond haired girl pulled a gray skirt from the rack, after examining it for a second, she walked over to one of the full length mirrors. She placed the skirt in front of her shorts, then looked at her reflection. Suddenly, her reflection changed to that of a boy about eight or nine, wearing a small suit.

Suddenly, the world around Alice changed. Instead of a girl's clothing store, she was now in a living room in a house. She glanced up and saw a ten-year-old girl with long brown hair, wearing a white dress. "Come on," she said,grabbing Alice's hand,"Mom and Dad are waiting."

Alice followed the other girl to the front door, where a man and woman were waiting. The man smiled,"My wife, my daughter, and my son. I could never be more happy than I am at this moment."

The world suddenly returned back to the clothing store, and Alice found herself inches from the mirror. "Alice?" June asked, running over,"Are you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost."

"I..I don't know," Alice said, holding her head,"I.."

The two girls heard a beeping noise, then June dug into her purse and pulled out her D-terminal. "What does it say?" Alice asked.

"We've got to meet Lord Ishida at these coordinates."

"Why?" Alice asked, following June out of the store.

"I don't know, but if Lord Ishida himself is going, then it can't be good."

Yamaki sighed as he stared up at the dome shaped ceiling of the Hypnos command deck. He glanced to the right when he heard the mechanical door slide open. "Orion, we've got a major problem."

"What is my mission?" the digital hunter bowed.

Yamaki turned his gaze back to the ceiling. "Ms. Taily, punch it up on screen.":

"Yes sir," Taily said, from her elevated chair. The normal blue dome of the room changed to an image of Takato and Agnimon flying over the city.

"That is the mysterious Agnimon," Yamaki explained,"I want him apprehend, so that we can figure out if he is a human, digimon, or a hybrid of both."

Orion knelt down, "As you wish, my commander."

He turned to leave, when Yamaki called out to him. "One more thing, the Digimon Empress will be accompanying you."

"What? Why, sir?"

"Taily!" Yamaki called. The blond technician pressed a few more buttons, and the dome ceiling changed again, this time to an image of the Digimon Kaiser.

"That is why," Yamaki said,"Agnimon and that other digidestined boy are following him, I want all them brought here so we can learn about them. Meet the Empress in the launching deck."

"Yes sir," Orion bowed, gritting his teeth behind his mask. "Now that I've got a partner along, I've got to deliver them here. Darn it!"

Alice and June soon found themselves on the shoreline of a strange pink lake. That wasn't the most striking thing about this lake, though, the fact that it was parted in the center, with a brown staircase descending to the bottom.

Alice and June gasped, then stared at each other. "You weren't kidding when you told me the Digital World was strange!" Alice gasped.

"I've never seen anyplace like this!" June exclaimed, turning back towards the lake.

"Ah, you're here."

The two girls turned around and saw Matt leading the Digidestined team from a path in the forest to the shoreline. "I was afraid you didn't get my message," Lord Ishida said, stopping in front of the two girls,"Aung Sun was busy, and I wasn't sure if she sent it yet."

"Yeah, we got it. Now, what is that about?" June asked, mentioning to the lake.

"That is where we need to go," Matt said, starting to descend the staircase. The other Digidestined looked at each other, then followed him.

June and Alice continued to be amazed as the water of the lake was actually standing straight up against the staircase. They were starting to wonder how the water was even able to support fish, when they approached a house at the bottom, with a large flower creature standing in front of the doors,"Digidestined," it said in a female voice, bowing slightly,"Welcome to Restoration Hall."

"Thank you Lt. Blossumon," Matt said, walking inside as the flower digimon held the door open for them.

They followed Blossumon through the hallway to the living room, where they were greeted by a surprise, The Digital Warriors seated around the room.

Tai jumped up and both he and Matt pointed at each other. "What are they doing here?!" they both shouted.

"There will be no fighting here!" Andromon boomed,"As long as you two are-ridicusouly, I might add-at war with one another, this place will be a neutral zone! If you wish to fight here, then you can no longer count the Restoration as allies."

Matt and Tai hesitated for a few seconds, then sat down. "Fine!" they both said.

"...where ze two so-called, 'Lords of ze digidestined,' Taichi Kamiya and Yamato Ishida were order to zit by Andromon, a high-ranking official in ze Digital Restoration."

"You're here too?" Tai asked, with a disgusted tone.

Catherine crossed her arms as Floramon pointed her camera in Tai's face,"I am ze reporter for ze Digital World, I was called here by Andromon."

Tai sighed, then glanced at Floramon's camera,"Are we live?"

"No," Catherine said, sadly,"Right now zey're showing zome zort of zitcom, or zomething."

"Can I have everyone's attention please?" Andromon called, standing in front of the room,"I would like to get started please." He waited until everyone was seated before he began. "Yesterday, at approximately 1600 hours, I approached Geni, in this very house, to ask for his advice on what was happening. He responded by exclaiming his desire to destroy humanity, and that he had joined Neo-Digiworld. He attacked me and brought me to a sub-plain of the Digital World, called the Dark Ocean. There, Geni started to build an army to conquer Earth before I escaped."

The combined digidestined forces gasped. "G-Geni betrayed us?" Izzy asked, shocked.

Andromon nodded. "Yes, unfortunately."

"What happens now?" Matt asked.

"The Digital Restoration, the force that battles against evil, is lead by a High Priest of the Digital World. Geni was the former High Priest, but since his betrayal, he has not been able to use the Staff, thus a new High Priest must be found. You must do this."

"Us?" Tai asked.

"Yes," Andromon said,"I have discussed this with Blossumon, and we both agree, the new High Priest should be a human."

"Why?" Kari asked.

"The time of the partnerless digimon is over," Andromon sighed,"Who will you look to when we're gone? It is time that humanity takes a more leadership role in the Digital World."

"Alright," Matt said,"What do we have to do?"

Geni bowed slightly as the communicator screen came to life,"Master Lucifer," he said.

"What is it?"

"M'lord," Geni said,"Andromon has now, no doubt, started a search for the new High Priest to lead the Restoration. If we can find the Priest before, and turn him to the side of Neo-Digiworld, then the Restoration would be under your control."

Lucifer smiled,"Excellent, tell me more."

"A High Priest?" Dr. Wong asked, leaning back in his seat,"Yes, I do recall a 'Geni'."

Matt paced Dr. Wong's office,"Geni just betrayed us, that's why we need to find a new High Priest.":

"How?"

Matt sighed,"Some sort of psychic tracking device...Yolei's working on it."

Dr. Wong started to rub his chin,"Interesting."

"So, Kamiya and I are trying to find the Priest before each other, but we need to find him, or we won't have the support of the Restoration..

Dr. Wong nodded slightly,"Speaking of which, do you have the list of Digital Warriors that I asked for?"

Matt reached inside his pocket and pulled out a folded paper. Dr. Wong smiled slightly,"I like you letterhead."

"Yeah," Matt grinned,"Aun Sung thought it up."

Dr. wong studied the list. "Kamiya, Taichi, Kamiya, Hikari, Michael, Oikawa, Noriko, Izumi, Koushiro, Master of Courage, Ichijoji, Ken, Aishuwayra, Mina, Vassill, Anna-wait, Aishuwayra?"

"What?" Matt asked, raising his eyebrow,"One of the Monster Makers, Curly, was named Rai Aishuwayra. Mina, she is that Indian girl, right?"

Matt nodded.

"I bet she's Curly's daughter. Maybe she has..."

"What?"

"Curly's notebook," Dr. Wong said,"I need to talk to her."

"Hello, Yolei," Mrs. FINDNAME said, opening the door,"How are you tonight?"

"I'm okay," she said, removing her hacket.

"I'm sorry about calling you last minute like that," Mrs. FINDNAME," said, closing the door.

"That's okay," Yolei smiled slightly,"I was totally broke."

"Always a good motivator," Mrs. FINDNAME said,"Wll, Tommy's in the living room."

Yolei nodded and followed her to where a small brown haired boy was seated with a group of action figures on the rug in front of the television. "Tommy, Yolei's here, so I'm leaving to meet your father, okay?"

"Okay, bye mom," the boy said.

"You behave for Yolei, understand? Yolei, the number for the restaurant is by the phone, help yourself to anything in the 'fridge. I'll see you later."

"Bye," Yolei called, waving as she left. She turned to where Tommy was sitting,"So, how are you tonight?"

Tommy shrugged,"Okay, I guess."

Yolei laughed slightly, then sat down next to him,"So, what are you doing there?"

"Just buildin' models," he shrugged.

"Of what?" Yolei pressed.

"A d'gimon makin' machine."

Yolei's smile faded. "What?"

Tommy pointed to a plastic cup with an action figure of some sort inside. There was a string attached from the top to another plastic cup with an action figure shaped like a fire volcano. "See, the human becomes a digimon."

"O-oh," Yolei said, trying to hide her expression. "What is with this kid?" she thought,"I'd better keep an eye on him."

Sora quickly opened the door to her apartment. "Mom...?" she called out,"Are you home?"

After a few minutes, Biyomon turned to her partner,"I don't think she's home."

Sora frowned, then walked inot her room. "I was hoping she was here," she said, slightly, lying down on her bed,"My head is killing me."

Biyomon waddled in and was about to ask her something, but found that Sora was asleep. The pink bird smiled slightyl, then walked into the kitched.

"I wonder what happened last night," Biyomon asked, grabbing some fish from the refridgerator,"I remember escaping from our cell in that weird building, then passing by that room, where Sora shouted something about knowing who Orion really was, then he fired some sort of ray at us, next thing we know, we're inside of an alley. What happened to..." She suddenly heard Sora shout out. Biyomon was at her partner's side in a second.

"Sora?"

Sora turned and looked at Biyomon with such fear in her eyes, that Biyomon's spine turned to ice. "Wh-what is it?"

Sora held up her right arm. Biyomon gasped at what she saw, Sora's entire arm nowl ooked more like a robotic arm, a metal machine cast in human form. "What's happening to me?"

Tai suddenly shot his eyes open as he heard a loud sobbing. He rubbed his eyes slightly, then saw his mother standing over him. "M-mom? Mom, what's wrong?"

"Oh, Tai," she cired, hugging him, tears pouring from her eyes," I...I had a dream last night that-that you died again, and...and then I came home and..and,.."

"It's okay," Tai said, hugging her,"I'm not going anywhere."

Mrs. Kamiya sniffled, then wiped her eyes, "I..I just lost it, I'm sorry."

"It's okay," Tai said, stretching his arms.

"Oh, Tai," Mrs. Kamiya siad, now in control of her self,"I wanted to talk to you about something."

"Yeah?" he asked, following her into her room.

"Before you're father died, he made me promise not to show a section of his journal."

"Dad, kept a journal?" he asked, shocked.

"Yes," Mrs. Kamiya said, grabbing a small book from her drawer,"before he died, he told me that scince..at that time...you were gone, he wanted me to wait untill Kari was eighteen before I gave it to her, but, scince you are alive..and eighteen..."

Tai nodded,"Yeah, I get it." he took the book from his mother's hands and sat down on her bed, opening the front page. His eyes shot open,"W-what?"

Mina looked up from her small desk when she heard a knock at the door. "Come in," she called.

A younger girl opened the door and peered inside,"Yes Rumi?"

"There is a call for you, Lady Mina," she said,"I belive it is from Japan."

"Okay," Mina said, reaching for her desk phone, as her servent bowed and exited,"Hello?"

"Is this Mina Aishuwayra?" It was a man's voice.

"Yes, who is this?" she asked, leaning back in her seat.

"Miss Aishuwayra, I don't know if you remember me, but, you and the rest of the Digital Warriors rescued my family and I from the Dark Master's ship..."

"Dr...Wong, is it?"

"Yes, that's right."

"Well, Dr. Wong, what can I do for you?"

"Well, I was wondering, was your mother's name Rai?"

"Yes," Mina said, then heard Dr. Wong gaps,"W-why do you ask?"

"Let me be straight forward, I knew your mother, very well, I was even there when you were born.."

"W-what?"

"Mina, your mother was the Monster Maker Curly."

Mina was silent for a long time.

"Mina?" Dr. Wong asked.

"I'm sorry, Dr. Wong, it is just a bit shocking. I had no idea..."

"I wouldn't have told you this abrubtly, except, time is running out. Neo-Digiworld is gainning more ground in the Digital World, The High Lord Apocalymon is recooperating, returning to the strenght level he had when he destroyed the Digital Gods. And when he reached that power level, all of Earth may be destroyed.

"How can I be of assisstence?"

"The Monster Makers were the brains behined the Omega Project, a series of experiments to create the ultimate digital being. We succeeded in creating the 'program' for its creation and activation, but, do to the extreame power it possessed, we decided to split the sections that we worked on amongst ourselves. Your mother Monster Maker of Networks, her notebook should contain the procedures for linking the rest of our programs together."

"I...I do not know," Mina hesitated,"this sounds like playing God...I...I don't think I shall be any part of this."

"It is a matter of life and death, Mina, you have to help us."

"I am sorry, Dr. Wong, I truly am, but, this goes against my belifs. I am sorry," she placed the phone back on the reciver.

"Mrs. Takenouchi," Biyomon sighed with relif as the floarist walked in the door.

"What's the matter?" she asked, noticing the tone in the digimon's voice.

"It's Sora," Biyomon said, walking towards the door to Sora's room.

"What's wrong with her?" she asked, literaly dropping everything onto the ground.

Biyomon hesitated a second, then opened the door. Mrs. Takenouchi looked inside, then gasped. Sora was lying on her bed, moaning and twisting in pain. Her right arm, legs, and upper portion of her chest was now covered in some sort of metalic substance. "What is that?" her mother shouted.

"I don't know," Biyomon sighed,"But, whatever it is, its spreading."

Mrs. Takenouchi turned to her,"What?"

"That metal thing started as a small circle on her finger," the digimon said, nervously.

Sora's mother hesitated for a second, then slowly leaned over her daughter. "Sora?"

Her daughter opened her eyes,"M-Mom?" she said.

"Sora," Mrs. Takenouchi said, placing her hand on Sora's shoulder,"I'm here."

Sora suddenly shot up, throwing her mother onto the floor. She was sambering for an explaination, when her daughter raised the palm on her now metal hand. Mrs. Takenouchi suddenly felt very weird, very tired. She gasped in horro as she watched yellow steam float from her body and into Sora's metal palm.

Biyomon could only stare in horror as Mrs. Takenouchi fell to the ground. Sora's body glowed for a second, then she ran to her window. "More energy," she jumped out the window,"I need more more..."

"Sora!" Biyomon shouted, but her human partner was gone.

"Be careful," Tentomon said, buzzing over a large bundle of wires lying on the floor.

Davis grumbled to himself as he climbed over the debris."I thought this place was supposed to be up and running."

"Yeah, well," Tentomon said,"When you don't exactly have the skilled help, it takes some time to assemble a military base."

As Tentomon lead the Digital Warriors through a vertable junkyard of wires and computer parts spread out across the floor, Kari nervously glanced at Davis, who was right behined her. Ever scince Takato arrived from the future to deliver the message that he was the child of these two Digital Warriors, the child that is begining to develop inside of Kari, these two lovers have had barely a moment to discuss the recent developments in their lives, and Kari couldn't help but wonder if it was by forces outside their control, or not.

A short time later, Tentomon lead them to a room with a large computer screen resting on the wall. Izzy sat in front of it, looking at an overhead map of Japan displade on the screen. When he heard the others, he spun around in his seat. "Ah, you're here, great."

"What did you want to see us about?" Kari asked.

"This," Izzy pointed to the map,"Andromon told us that the New High Priest would be a chld of tremendous psychic powers. Well, this is a psychic tracker. It will allow me to track a child with the energy readings that are consistent with the level Andromon wants."

"Izzy, you never cease to amaze me," Noriko said, shaking her head.

"Not only that," he explained," but, I have been tracking a psychic power and it has remained at this location for the past hours." He pressed a few buttons on the keyboard and the map zoomed in to an area of Tokyo. "If you hurry, you might be able to get to him before he moves again."

"You got it," Kari said,"Digital Warriors, move out."

The mysterous girl croutched behined the dumpster, staring at the sky. She knew the Digimon Kaiser was still after her, but, she had to find Daisuke Motomiya. She didn't know where he was, but something was pulling her towards him, something, that would give her no rest until she found him.

Kari opened the door to the building and walked inside. "Hey, it's a dance studio."

The other Digital Warriors walked inside and saw that they were inside a large gym-like room, with dozens of children twirling and jumping to the rythym blasting from speakers positioned around the room. "So the High Priest is in here?" Michael asked, glancing around.

"This is the address Izzy gave us," Ken said,"The Hight Prist has to be here."

As the children practiced their dancing, a young woman walked over to the Digital Warriors. "Hi, is there something I can help you with?"

"Actually," Kari said,"We're looking for a young boy with some...strange psychic powers."

"Psychic?" she asked, raising her eyebrows,"Who are you?"

Kari was about to explain, when one of the windows suddenly exploded as a figure shot through and crashed into the ground. The children all shouted and ran for cover. The Digital Warriors all jumped into action mode. Noriko ran over to the figure. "Hey, are you okay?"

The mysterious girl slowly sat up, rubbing the back of her head,"Yeah, I..I think so, but...I don't know for how much longer."

"What?" Noriko asked, twisting her head to the broken window where she saw the Digimon Kaiser shoot into the room. He glared down at the girl,"I've finally found you!"

"Who are you?" Kari asked, only the Digimon Emperor wasn't able to answer, as he was suddenly thrown into the far wall by a blast of fire that shot through the destroyed window. Takato, Wargrowlmon and Agnimon entered a second later.

"Finally caught up with you!" Takato shouted, only to have himself and Agnimon thrown to the floor by another blast aimed at them.

"And we've finally got you!" The Digimon Emperess shouted as she and Orion floated into the room.

"Takato, are you okay?" Davis asked, helping him up off the ground.

"Yeah, Dad, thanks," the future boy said, rubbing the back of his head. Davis winced slight at the use of 'father' but ignored it as they had other things to occupy themselves with.

"Orion?" Ken asked,"You're that Digital Hunter aren't you?"

Orion started laughing. "Most of the Digital Warriors, here? Ha ha! We hit the mother load."

"I don't care what you do with the others," the Emperess growled,"I want Matsuki!"

"What did I ever do to you?" Takato shouted.

"Step away from that girl, now" the Digimon Kaiser ordered, as his Airdramon decended to the floor.

"N-no!" the girl said, cowering on the floor,"P-please."

"I don't know who you are, or what's going on," Noriko said, eying the Kaiser,"But I think its safe to assume that you're the bad guy here."

"I am the Digimon Kaiser," he said, staring at Noriko,"Calling up files......Subject designate: Noriko Oikawa: Digimon Partner: Kunemon, Kuwagamon. Noriko,I must aprehend that girl, she is dangerous."

"You appear to be the dangerous one," Davis exclaimed as he, Ken, Stingmon, and Exveemon joined Noriko and Kunemon.

"I agree with Davis," Ken said.

The Kaiser glanced at both of them. "Subject Designate: Ken Ichijoji, Digimon Partner: Wormmon, Stingmon, Paildramon. Subject Designate: Master of Courage: Alias: Davis, Daisuke. Digimon Partner:Veemon, Exveemon, Paildramon."

The girl's expression changed completly as the Kaiser read off Davis's bio. "D-Daisuke?" she stuttered,"Daisuke..Motomiya?"

"How do you know my real name?" Davis asked, turning at her.

"It's you!" the girl shouted,"It's really you! I thought it would take days to find you, but, you're right here."

"Who are you?"

"Enough!" Orion shouted,"No one is going anywhere, you are all under arrest."

"We are not going anywhere," Agnimon said, shooting towards him and slamming his fist into his face. Kari and Angewomon soon joined him. Takato was busy with the Digimon Emperess, and the three other Digital Warriors were ready to jump into battle with the mysterious Digimon Kaiser.

"You must allow me to apprehened that girl," the Kaiser said,"You do not know how dangerous she is."

"Regardless of how dangerous she is," Ken said,"You have to be a thousand times worse for her to be shaking like that!"

"Since you will not aid me, you leave me no choice," the Kaiser said, raising his palm,"You all must be destroyed!"

He fired from his palms a wave of black energy that sent the three Digital Warriors and their Digimon flying backwards into the far wall. Exveemon had just enough energy to blast his V-laser into the Digimon Kaiser before he regressed to Veemon. The Kaiser flew off of his Airdramon, an object flying from his head.

"Great job," Ken said,"You knocked the goggles out of him."

The Kaiser grumbled, then sat up, his ture face in plain view. "Sam?!" Ken shouted.

The Kaiser looked disorented and confused as he glanced around. "K-Ken," he said,"I...I..."

Ken was suddenly thrown back as Kari and Takato crashed into him. Sam twirled his head around and saw that Orion had Agnimon wrapped around in some sort of mummy-like bandages. "You can come with us willingly, or, be forced, the choice is yours."

Sam appeared to be struggling inside himself, when he screamed,"The Digimon Kaiser bows down to no one!"

"Your choice," the Emperess said, blasting a dart into Sam's shoulder. His eyes droped down a second later.

"Excellent shot," Orion said,"Now packadge him up and let's get out of here."

Gatomon was the first to regain consciousness. She quickly woke up Kari, who was able to wake up the others. "Okay," Kari said, after everyone was up,"What happened? How were we so badly destroyed like that?"

"Best guess," Gatomon said,"Some sort of powers that make digital beings like us weak against them. When I was fighting, I could feel my energy slip away, couldn't you, Agnimon...wait, where is he?"

"Sam's gone too!" Ken shouted,"What was he doing?"

"Maybe our 'guest' here can answer," Noriko said, helping the mysterious girl to her feet.

"Who are you?" Kari asked.

The girl ignored her and looked to Davis. "I'm so glad I found you.....You don't recognize me, do you? It's not surprising, I didn't look like this the last time I saw you."

Davis just stared at her. "Right," the girl said,"Well, it's me, Zoe."

"Zoe?" Davis asked,"The only Zoe that I knew, was a frined of my father's that helped us develop the guns he was going to use to fight Oikawa. She was my father's age."

"I know," the girl said,"I don't remember how I regressed to this age, but, I am the real Zoe."

"An age regressor?" Takato said, "The Monster Makers developed one, remember?"

Zoe's face lit up,"Wait...that name..Monster Makers...that's familar, yes, I recognize it. I'm not sure how, but..."

She was interupted as a loud siren blasted down the street. "Maybe we should finish this back at base," Kari said.

"Yeah, let's get out of here," Gatomon said.

As the group ran out of the building, Ken caught sight of what appeared to be a boy wearing a baseball cap staring at them through the window. When he saw that Ken was looking at him, he disapeared. "A mystery for another day," Ken said, charging out the door.

"There you are," Yolei said, walking to where Tommy was staring out the apartment balcolny at the water front. She sat down next to him,"What are you doing?"

"I'm just looking at the water," he said,"I think its cool."

Yolei chuckled,"Well, it's your bed time."

"Okay," he said, glancing at a warehouse resting on the peir. He looked at it for a long time, before Yolei called him again.

"Do you like that warehouse?" she asked, confused.

"No," he said, following her inside. "I'm just gonna blow it up." he thought.

Next: Neo-Digiworld wants to lay claim to the next High Priest as well. The Digidestined have their hands full batteling them, as well as searching for the new High Priest. Meanwhile, Sora's condition worsens, and Biyomon must hunt down her best friend, and Tai makes a shocking discovery about his father. Plus, what's up with Agnimon, Sam, J.P., and Tommy? Next: Mystic Digimon War: Chapter 20: High Priest Found!