Digimon Fan Fiction ❯ New Gennai Order ❯ NGO -- Prologue I: "What If?" ( Chapter 1 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

"New Gennai Order - Prologue I of II: "What If?"


Richard Berke
Normal
Richard Berke
2
46
2001-03-14T00:27:00Z
2001-07-23T01:43:00Z
17
13371
76220
RB
635
152
93603
9.3821

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"New
Gennai Order - Prologue I of II: "What If?"

(C)
March 2001, Ryan Berke

http://ryanberke.cjb.net/



This
entire story is dedicated to my loyal friend and beta reader, Thinker. I know I probably still could have done this
without him, but I honestly can't see how!
Much as I'm sure we all miss your fanfiction, buddy, I know everyone'll
love your book.





((DISCLAIMER:
I do not own, nor do I claim to own, any of the Digimon characters (heck, I
refuse to claim even the ones I made up! Feel free to steal them!) They are all
property of FoxKids, Toei, and Bandai. I haven't received any permission ahead
of time, but then this wouldn't be a Fanfic, would it? Likewise, I do not own
the song "What If?" by Creed))

((ADDITIONAL
DISCLAIMER: This story is not Copywritten, as implied by the heading. (c)
stands for "completed," allowing me to know when I wrote it.))





----------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------



"All-Right Troops!" Miyako encouraged, "Let's
keep it moving! We're not going home
until we finish off the Digimon Kaizer, so the sooner we get this done, the
better!"

"She's really gung ho about this, isn't she?"
Hawkmon quipped.

"Silence in the ranks!" Miyako shouted
back. "How're we supposed to sneak up
on the Kaizer with you guys talking so much?"

She stopped in his tracks, finding her path
blocked by a glowing bright...words couldn't even begin to describe it.

"Uh, Miyako?" Daisuke asked. "I think the Kaizer might've snuck up on us
first."

The anomaly grew, advancing in size from a
small pinprick in midair to a good-sized circle several feet in diameter. It shone brightly, emitting colors none of
the Chosen ever imagined possible. Having
reached a size for suitable admittance, three figures stepped out, almost
wincing at the sudden daylight-as if unaware of the light their…thing emitted
for itself. The first of the figures, a
young man, squinted at Daisuke. "Huh? You're not Tai!"

The man wore his hair long, and tied back.
His face scruffy, overall appearance unkempt. He must've not gotten a haircut
in years! His clothes, military fatigues, were ragged and torn, not to mention
a few sizes too small. Must've been a while on the wardrobe too.

Discouraged, he turned to his two companions,
"And I guess this isn't the Digi-world, either. Our one shot failed."

"No, wait!" Daisuke exclaimed.
"This _is_ the Digiworld. And I
_know_ Taichi. Maybe I can help."

The guy ignored him, but seemed to notice the
others behind the arrogant little kid. "T.K.? Kari?"

"Jyou?" the two replied, in unison.

"It can't be. You're dead. Unless it
really _did_ work."

"What worked?" Hikari soothed,
trying her best to coax an explanation about the confused man in front of her.

"Maybe I'd better explain..." he
offered, sitting on a nearby rock.

------------------------------------------------------------ --------------------



"What
If?"

PART
ONE

Release
Date: 3.13.00



----------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------


"The sky will be darkened by the wings of many bats.
The Fallen people will invoke the name of the undead Digimon King.
And when the clock strikes the hour of the beast, the Undead King will reveal
himself in his true form as the Beast.
Then Angels will shoot arrows of Hope and Light at the loved ones of those
they've been sent to protect, and a miracle will happen.
Please Always Recycle."
--Gennai, upon finding the Prophecy


---------------

"Wait, the prophecy! That's it!" Mr. Ishida yelled, "Quick,
Izzy. What did the prophecy say about angels?"

"What _does_ the prophecy say, Izzy?" the boy's mother prompted.

"Well, before the recycle part, 'Then Angels will shoot arrows of Hope and
Light at the loved ones of those they've been sent to protect, and a miracle
will happen.'
"Okay, if Angemon and Angewomon were the angels from the prophecy--"

"So then who're the ones they were sent to protect?" Mr. Izumi asked.

"That must mean T.K. and Kari." Izzy reasoned, "The angels will
shoot arrows at their loved ones!"

"It's simple. Allow me to explain." Tentomon interrupted, "Say
I'm some kind of Guardian Angel. Who's guardian am I? Yours. And who do _you_
love the most?"

"I was just getting to that!" Izzy protested, "My Mom and Dad,
obviously."

"Exactly. But T.K. and Kari not only have Moms and Dads, they have
something else too."

"They have brothers!" Mr. Izumi realized.

"In a word, Bingo!"

"But why would you want them shooting arrows at your loved ones?"
Izzy asked, "Sounds kinda dangerous if you ask me."

"They're angels, Izzy." his mother announced, as if it was obvious,
"Maybe they're like cupid; he was sort of an angel. When he shot arrows,
they were arrows of love."

"Mom, isn't that a little corny?"

"It may sound corny, but I buy it." Tentomon declared, turning to Tai
and Matt, "All we've got to do is get Angemon and Angewomon to shoot you
guys with their arrows of love!"

"Hey!" Izzy cautioned, "Let's not be too hasty here!"

Matt ignored him, turning to Tai, "What do you think?"

"It's worth a shot." the leader decided, "Kari!"

"T.K.!"

"Are you sure you wanna?" T.K. asked.

Tai nodded, "Lets see those arrows of hope and light!"

"You two have gotta get them to shoot at us!"

"They'll only do it if _you_ tell them to!"

Kari was skeptical, "You really want 'em to shoot at you?"

T.K. agreed, "What if you get, like, dead, or something?"

"Naw," Matt reassured him, "Never happen, right?"

"Right." Tai confirmed.

"Okay." Kari agreed, still hesitiant, "Angewomon!"

"Angemon, listen up!" T.K. chimed in, "I know this maybe sounds
crazy. But you've got to shoot Matt and Tai with your arrows."

"You too, Angewomon!"

"She's right," Angemon declared.

"Sounds crazy..." his counterpart added.

"Wait!" Gabumon yelled, "Are you sure about this?"

Agumon echoed, "What if the prophecy's all wrong?"

Tai comforted, "You want a miracle to happen, or not?"

"Yeah, miracles require a little faith." Matt agreed, then turned to
Tai, "Scared, Tai?"

"No, not at all. How 'bout you, Matt?"

"'Course not. Piece of cake." he reached for Tai's hand, "But
maybe I'll just hang on to you, to make sure you don't chicken out, or
anything."

"Yeah, I'll do the same for you, buddy." Tai said, taking Matt's.

Angemon and Angewomon drew back their arrows, the former speaking, "One
miracle..."

The other chimed in, finishing the sentence, "Coming up..."

The arrows flew through the air, striking Matt and Tai. The boys were enveloped
by a huge flash of light, and everyone seemed to blink.

Did it work?

They were all shocked by what they saw. T.K. fainted, and Kari broke into
tears.

But perhaps Matt's father summed it up best of all...

"Oh Shit!"

---------------

"Alright, I'm tired of fooling around." Gomamon declared, "We
have to defeat Myotismon once and for all!"

Mimi agreed, "Our parents always protected us--now it's time we came
through for them."

Palmon nodded, "Mimi, if we do it together, we can beat him."

"Think so?"

"Uh-huh!"

"I'll try!" Biyomon echoed.

Sora looked at her digimon, "You will?"

"Yeah!"

"Okay."

"We already tried!" Joe complained.

"So we'll keep on trying, Joe! Because Digimon never give up!"
Gomamon hopped onto Joe's shoulder, "Like they always say, 'All for one
and one for all!'"

Joe laughed, "You're right--we can do it! Let's get him, guys!"

Upon seeing Joe run off yelling, Sora turned to Jim, "You'll have to
excuse Joe. He's a little Hyperactive." She ran after.

Mimi turned to Jim as well, "Please take care of our Parents, Jim!"

Jim stared as they left, and said softly, "Good luck, you guys."

---------------

Sora ran to where the others were watching the battle, finding them all
depressed. T.K. was on the ground, and Kari was sobbing. The adults sat
together, comforting each other. Izzy sat away from them, staring into his
computer screen, unmoving.

Sora ran up to him, "What's going on? Where are Tai and Matt?"

Izzy tried to answer, but found he couldn't. He led Sora behind the fallen News
van, and pointed at the bodies.

Her eyes flared angrily with realization, "Tell me _everything_!"

---------------

"You...murderer!" Sora screamed at Kari, ignoring the fact that T.K.
was equally involved, "How could you? Your own Brother!"

Kari opened her mouth to reply, but Sora wasn't finished, "You were with
them all along! You and that...that Angel Bitch!

"I'm sorry," Kari choked, softly.

"Oh, you better believe it!" Sora barked, lunging savagely at the
younger girl.

"Hey!" Izzy exclaimed, "It wasn't her fault!"

"So _you're _ with them too, huh?" Sora snapped, "I should've
known! _You_ were the one who _found_ the prophecy!"

"How would I know it'd kill him?"

"You think you're so smart! Well y'know what?" Sora asked, "I am
just _sick_ of this."

She stormed away, and Izzy called to her, "Where're you going?"

"I'm outta here!" she replied, stopping only kneel over Tai's
lifeless form, and pick up his Digivice, Tag, and Crest; the only untouched
remains of him. "C'mon, Birdramon. We're leaving."

"Coming, Sora!" obviously confused.

"Sora, wait!" Joe called.

But she was already gone.

---------------

"Don't worry about her," Izzy said, trying to calm a sobbing Kari.

"No, she's right." she replied, "I killed Tai and Matt."

"If anyone's to blame, it's me." Izzy comforted, feeling the weight
on his shoulders increase dramatically, "I found the Prophecy, it's my
fault. You just did what you were told."

Kari seemed to take that very maturely, and think it over. She even stopped
crying, and her expression changed. Izzy braced himself for another outburst.

"Izzy..."

"What?" he asked, soothingly.

"Thank you." Kari replied, "But I can't hold it against you; it
wasn't your fault either. You every reason _to_ trust Gennai, and like you said,
'How could you know?'"

Izzy took a step back, shocked, "Uh...anytime."

"But," Kari continued, "We don't have time for this. We have to
stop VenomMyotismon, and we can't do it with only five Digimon."

Izzy stared at her, amazed by the maturity and leadership she possessed. Over
the past few months, they'd all turned to Tai and Matt for guidance, and when
not them, Sora. But even now, he knew in his heart Kari would be a good leader.
Like brother, like sister.

But unlike her brother, she knew when to quit too.

"Everyone, fall back!" she called to the saddened group, "We
can't beat him like this!"

"But the people at the convention center--"

"Won't be safe with you dead too." Jim said, pulling up on a
motorbike.

Kari, reassured of her decision, spoke again "C'mon, we're evacuating the
area. Civilians first, then Digidestined. Angemon, Angewomon--watch our
backs!"

Izzy began to add, "Megakabuterrimon--"

"Has done enough." Kari replied, "I'm sorry, we'll never get
away if we all stay here."

"I understand." Izzy said, wishing otherwise. He lifted up T.K.'s
passed out form, and followed Joe and Mimi out.

Kari watched to make sure everyone was on their way, then picked up the
remaining Digivice, Tag, and Crest, still where Matt had worn them. She ran
after, last of everyone.

"Okay, Angels, we're all safe." she said, giving the final command,
"Retreat!"

---------------

Hours later, a grim faced party sat around a conference room table in the ruins
of the T.V. station. In addition to Kari, Izzy, Mimi, Joe, and T.K., Matt's
Father, Izzy's parents, and Jim were present. They were accompanied by Salamon,
Tentomon, Gomamon, Palmon, and a very weak Tsunomon.

Kari took a position at one end of the table, in front of a dry-erase marker
board mounted sideways on the wall. Everyone began to notice what Izzy had
realized earlier. Kari _was_ the Eighth Child, and if anyone could destroy
Myotismon, she could. Tai was important as a leader when Courage was important,
but in this hour of darkness, they needed this guiding Light even more.

"It's been a tough day. For everyone." she began, "But we all
need to stay focused. VenomMyotismon _must_ be stopped, Matt or no Matt, Tai or
no Tai." She watched as people nodded. "Izzy has spent the time since
then analyzing what happened, and has offered to share his observations.
Izzy?"

"Kari's right." Izzy said, standing up and walking to the board. Kari
stepped aside to let him take the stage. "We have to stop him. Let's look
at the facts.

"First, we couldn't stop him at the tower. He's stronger now, and
attrition has ravaged our ranks. We all miss Tai, Matt, and Angemon, and I'm
sure we all wish Sora hadn't left."

Kari nodded approval, and T.K. burst into tears. It'd been a rough day for him.
His mom trapped at the convention center. His brother killed. And his best
friend over the past few months, dead. VenomMyotismon hadn't been about to let
his enemies get away, and Angemon sacrificed himself to save them all.

"Second," Izzy continued, pausing appropriately, "We've got us a
kid without a Digimon, a Digimon without a kid, and the Digivices, Tags, and
Crests for both." Izzy fished the items out of his pocket, the ones Kari
had given him for this purpose, "T.K., I'm sure Matt would've wanted you
to take care of Tsunomon for him."

He handed the items to the younger boy, and waited while T.K. tried to control
his tears. He put them on, next to his own set of the equipment.

"Third, VenomMyotismon can get stronger by taking energy away from others.
He's displayed an extreme ruthlessness in draining his own minions, sacrificing
some of his best officers. We've experienced this in the past, with both
Devimon and his black gears, and Etemon's dark network. The difference here is,
we don't have any more Digivolutions to exploit, and can't trust Gennai to hand
any more over to us. We're running out of options.

"The real question now is: what _can_ we do?"

---------------

"Biyomon, is he still following us?" Sora asked.

"Yes, Sora." Biyomon echoed, "He's still following us."

She stopped, letting the Digimon catch up.

"Why the _hell_ are you following me?" she demanded.

"I'm sorry, Sora." Koromon replied, "But I have to protect
whoever has the digivice."

Flashback. Datamon's Pyramid.

"I believe the power of the crests come not from the digivice, but from
whoever can access it's power."

Datamon had almost won that time, but Tai had saved her.

Tai.

Suddenly, Sora felt weak.

"Okay, you can stay with us." she gave in, to weary to resist.
"Nothing else we can do now. It's late, so let's sleep and get a fresh
start in the morning."

The others agreed. Within moments, they were all fast asleep.





----------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------



"Wait, how do you know all this?"
Miyako asked. "After all, you weren't there at the time, were you?"

Joe stole a glance at the colleague to his
left. She was dressed in black-and-gray, perfect for sneaking around in the
night. Her scarlet eyes hosted an aura of mystery behind them; she was
definitely quite the character. Like Joe, her hair was long and unkempt, but
she let hang loose on her shoulders.

"I have my sources."

Iori chimed in. "It would help us to
understand your story if you'd explain everything as it happens."

"All will be explained, when I'm good and
ready. For now, you kids can wait." He paused, playing with the stubble on
his chin. "Now, where was I..."

------------------------------------------------------------ --------------------



"What
If?"

PART
TWO

Release
Date: 4.01.00



----------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------



Have
I been dreaming? This isn't my bedroom... "Biyomon! It isn't a dream!
No!!!"

"Don't be frightened my dear. She's simply exhausted from all the
excitement. She'll be fine when I use her in my plan to destroy Etemon."
Datamon assured her.

"Biyomon can't digivolve without me, and I'd rather be stuck in a sewer
full of rats than help you!"

"Good then, I'll remember you said that." He turned, and started
punching more buttons into a computer panel.

"What're gonna do to me?" Sora asked, nervously.

"Just remain calm."

A strange instrument popped out of the table Sora found herself strapped to. It
started at her toes, but before long moved to her head, and back.

"Ahh! Get me off this thing!"

"We've just started."

Sora screamed, "Hey! What's happening to me?"

"Relax, I'm just making a copy of you." Datamon explained, as Sora
screamed, "You see, I believe Biyomon's power doesn't come from you, my
dear, but from whoever appears to be in possession of that fancy Digivice you
so proudly wear."

"You will never be able to command Biyomon."

"Perhaps not, but we'll see if an exact replica of you can."

He returned to the panel. Sora exclaimed, "This just can't be
happening!" She had to correct herself at her tag and a crest popped out
of the panel, "I could be wrong!"

Ignoring her, Datamon spoke, "When I fought the beast before, Etemon
erased all my memory circuits, except for those of the fight. From that moment
on, I vowed I'd have my revenge, and I _will_ have it, with the help of your
digi-partner. But enough of this small-talk, my dear. The moment of truth has
arrived!"

---------------

"Your friends are _very_ perceptive, my dear." Datamon complimented,
"It seems they've already discovered that I'm holding you prisoner here in
this pyramid."

Sora asked, "What was that explosion?" The earth rumbled a few times.

"There's a ferocious battle raging outside, and several of your friends
have even managed to enter the pyramid."

"My friends?"

---------------

Tai burst through a breach in pyramid security, in this case, the wall to the
room. "Sora!" he called, "Sora, are you all right? Speak to me
Sora! Sora!!!"

"That's not Sora!" Biyomon corrected, urgently, "That's just a
copy!"

"Here, Tai!" Sora helped.

"And now the copy is finished." Datamon announced, ignoring the Trio,
"I will give he the magic crest, and she will become the new Sora, and do
whatever I require of her."

"That's what you think, you pile of junk!" Tai dived forwards,
towards Datamon, and the Crest.

"No! What're you doing?" Datamon yelled, "I will not permit a
mere boy to disrupt my plans to destroy Etemon!"

Tai ignored him, running the other way, to Sora, "I'm coming, Sora!"

Sora screamed as the floor gave way, the table disappeared, and she fell. Tai
dived and caught her by the arm. She moaned nervously, hanging there.

Tai called for help, "Biyomon!"

Datamon gloated over them, "That is the center of Etemon's dark power
network. Anything sucked in there will be lost for all eternity." He
reached towards their hands, attempting to pry them apart, "And since I no
longer have any need for the original, I'll just get rid of it."

"Tai!" Biyomon exclaimed, "The Crest!"

"Yes," Datamon added, "The crest is the means by which you may
save the maiden's life, if you give it to me immediately."

"Yeah," Tai countered, "Well why don't you tell Etemon your sad
story, cause we're not interested!" he dropped the crest. Datamon wailed
as Tai added, "Sora, catch!"

"No, wait!"

"Not scared, are you, Datamon?"

Biyomon, digivolve to ... BIRDRAMON!

"Stay back, you blasted crow!" Datamon shoed, as Birdramon rescued
the two children, "What do you think you are doing? Those're mine!"

Etemon burst through a wall, "Don't worry, tinhead, I'll play with
you!"

Greymon, Kabuterrimon, and Izzy crashed through another. The first exclaimed,
"We're out!"

"We made it!" Izzy added.

"I never thought I'd see you again!" Sora cried.

"Hey!" Tai observed, "Here come the others!"

They could watch as Matt, Joe, Mimi, and T.K. ran towards them from where
they'd been fighting Etemon before. Sora waved to them, "We're over
here!"

They all replied, "We're coming, we're coming!"

---------------

They all watched as Etemon's minions were dragged back, towards the Pyramid,
against all resistance. Amazed, Joe asked, "What happened back
there?"

"I suspect the computer blew." Izzy replied, always having an answer.

"Look at the Pyramid!" Sora observed.

"It's disintegrating!" Tai clarified.

The entire structure collapsed, as Tai had said. Out of it rose a hideous beast
of Etemon and his Network. Everyone gasped.

"What's with this guy?" Tai asked.

"I told you I'd come back to take my revenge on you!" Etemon
declared, "Didn't believe me, did you?"

Birdramon and Kabuterrimon flew towards him to attack.

"Meteor Wing!"
"Electro-shocker!"

The shots dissolved meaninglessly before Etemon. "Hey, that was pretty
good." he complimented, "I'd give it about a nine-point-six. Now
then, are you ready for a fastball?" He hurled a green-black globe, but it
missed, hitting a pyramid.

"That one's headed right for the sphinx!" Joe warned.

"Ahh!" Mimi screamed, "The sphinx melted!"

"Melted doesn't even to describe it." Izzy corrected.

"We've tried everything," Sora said, hopelessly, "Nothing can
stop him. I guess this is the end."

"I _was_ hoping to skip algebra class, but not like this!" Joe,
obviously.

Tai stood determined, and his crest glowed, like it had at the firewall.
"No," he declared, "I'm not ready to surrender to Etemon just
yet! Comin' Greymon?"

"I'm right behind you!" the Digimon replied.

Etemon saw them, and couldn't resist a lame comment to mock them, "What've
we got here, sportsfans? A new batter steps up to the plate."

"I'm not afraid of you, you big blow-hard!" Tai exclaimed as he ran,
"Come down here and fight like a 'Mon!"

"Tai! What're you doing?" Mimi asked, "You don't stand a
chance!"

"Hey, you are brave! I like that!" Etemon called, hurling another
attack. It hit Greymon, knocking the big Digimon over.

"Don't worry, Greymon; I'm staying right with you." Tai reassured.

The crest glowed again, and Greymon announced, "Tai, your courage is
giving me even greater strength! I can digivolve!"

GREYMON, digivolve to ... _METAL-GREYMON!!!_

"Lookie here!" Etemon mocked, "A fully-evolved Digimon! Well, I
can handle him too; just watch me, kid."

"Metal Greymon?" Joe asked.

"It was the power from the Crest." Matt explained.

Tentomon added, "MetalGreymon uses his own body as a weapon during battle.
His most lethal weapon is the Gija Destroyer."

Tai shouted, oblivious to them, "Etemon is everyone's enemy! Use the power
of the crest!"

"What's with you? Is there no end to your stupidity?" Etemon
attacked, but MetalGreymon blocked it with a swipe of his claw. "That was
just a joke!" Etemon corrected, afraid.

MetalGreymon growled, as Tai ordered, "Finish him while we still have the
power!"

MetalGreymon lowered his head an charged. Etemon warned, "Woah, back off
baby!" and added as he was hit, "Ow! Don't you know the rules--there's
no head-butting allowed!"

MetalGreymon replied with a growl, and began to glow even more.

"He's glowing!" Mimi noticed, "I wish mine could do that!"

"It's the crest power." T.K. realized.

"No!" Etemon warned, "Don't destroy me; I've got too much
talent!"

"Giga-Blaster!"

"No!" Etemon echoed, exploding. Everyone gasped. In his death throes,
he added, "You must not defeat me. I'm too important to die..."

He disappeared in a flash of black light, and a huge rift replaced where he
was. Tai and MetalGreymon found themselves being sucked in, and screamed. The
former cried, "Don't let go of me, MetalGreymon!"

MetalGreymon growls, and the pair are lifted into the air, and through the
vortex.

Everyone called, in unison, "Tai!"

"What happened to them?" T.K. asked.

Sora's face fell, and she looked as if she was on the verge of crying.
"Come back!" she called, faintly.

---------------

"Come back!" Sora cried, still sleeping.

"Sora, wake up!" Biyomon pleaded.

"Yes, please!" Koromon choked, cuddled to her, and being squeezed
just a little too tightly.

Finally, he just couldn't take it. He let loose a "Bubble Blow" and
rocketed backwards, tearing his way out of her arms. The girl woke up just in
time to watch the digimon impact into the side of an overturned dumpster.

"I'm sorry, Koromon." she said, about to cry again, "It's
just..."

"I know," Koromon soothed, "We all miss him."

"If only it hadn't happened." Sora wondered, "If only--"
she choked, unable to say _her_ name, "If only She hadn't killed
him."

"Yeah..." Koromon replied, not necessarily agreeing. _He_ knew how
good Kari was, but Sora had barely met her...

"Um... I hate to be the one to break up such a touching moment..."
Biyomon cautiously interrupted, "But what're we gonna do now?"

"I don't know." Sora sniffed. How _would_ she know? Izzy usually did
most of the planning! "Stop VenomMyotismon, I guess. I just can't bring
myself to go back to _her_."

"Maybe we won't have to." Koromon joked, "Maybe they can handle
it with the six digimon they've got."

"We can't just do nothing!" Biyomon complained.

Sora sighed. As much as she hated Kari for what she'd done, she knew she had a
responsibility to live up to. "We'll find my Mom, first. We'll help her,
_then_ we'll see about the others."

The three stood up, and prepared for the long trek back to the convention
center.

---------------

Last night, nobody had wanted to talk any more. They were out of ideas, and
running out of time. Something _had_ to be done, but no one knew what.
Eventually, they all followed T.K.'s lead, and slept.

Everyone but Izzy. He _knew_ there had to be a way to stop VenomMyotismon, if
only he could find it.

He sat in a chair, pulled up to the window, as he'd been all night. Staring
out, he began to see what constituted dawn through the heavy fog. The
rubble-strewn battlefield backed devastated buildings within the city. Behind
it all, the convention center and nearby buildings remained intact.

There had to be a way to win, but Izzy couldn't see it. Everyone looked to him
for an explanation, and for once, he had none to give. He was a boy; a
ten-year-old boy, not a tactician.

He turned, feeling a tap to his shoulder.

"Oh," he said, "Hi, Kari."

"I just wanted to let you know," she said, "You did a good job
last night. With your speech, I mean."

"Glad you thought so." he said, not really meaning it. There was an
awkward pause, lasting several minutes. Izzy began to turn back to the window.

"I know I've only been here, what, two days?" Kari began again, and
Izzy turned to face her again. "And I'm really glad that you're here to
help."

"Anytime."

"I'd hoped so," she replied, all too literal, "Because you're
our new General."

He didn't reply, letting his gaping expression speak for him.

"Hear me out," Kari ordered, taking a deep breath. "This may
seem blunt. Your parents, Mr. Ishida, and Jim don't have Digimon, and would be
in constant danger if they became targets. T.K. is all hung up about Matt, and
doesn't quite understand the severity of the situation. Joe's a coward, and
Mimi's too shallow. That leaves you, who's already demonstrated high strategic
potential, and me, the newbie. Between Tentomon and your laptop, you've got all
the information you need, you've got months more experience than me, and the
logic to support it all. You're the obvious choice."

He thought that over, but really didn't have much choice. "Okay, but
you're the leader. I make the plans, but I can't give orders, and I can't
relate well with people. You, on the other hand, have been making command
decisions since you were first with us, up to and not excepting your surrender
to Phantomon."

There were a few moments of silence.

"So...any new ideas?"

"A few," Izzy admitted, "But they should probably wait until
everyone's up."

Kari turned to look at the sleeping forms scattered across the floor.
"Yeah," she agreed, "We'll wait."



----------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------



"Good." Daisuke grunted. "Kari
deserves to lead. Such perfection as her--"

"Aww, give it a rest!" V-mon
exclaimed, "Let him tell the story!"

--------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----

"What
If?"

PART
THREE

Release
Date: 5.01.00

---------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------

Takeru Takaishi yawned, and stretched.
Opening his eyes, he frowned, finding himself in the TV station. In the
devastated city after VenomMyotismon's onslaught.

In a world where Matt and Patamon were dead.

He would've cried, but didn't get a chance to. A hand clamped on his shoulder,
followed by a "C'mon, TK. Izzy and Kari want to talk to everyone."

TK followed Joe to the adjourning room, where the meeting had been held the
night before. As in the previous meeting, Kari and Izzy stood by the dry-erase
marker board, and a conference table was conveniently located for use by the
others.

Taking a seat by his father, TK kicked his feet impatiently, waiting for the
meeting to start. With a final word between Izzy and Kari, it did.

Kari's mouth moved, but TK didn't catch the words coming out. He tried to
focus, but his mind kept wandering. Back to the battle. Back to Angemon...

He hadn't even seen it happen; he'd already fainted. It was only later, when
Joe talked to him, that he'd found out.

---------------

"Hey," the older boy had said, solemnly approaching him, "How're
you feeling?"

"Why do you care?"

"You're just a kid; I'm responsible for you."

That caught TK's attention. He'd heard it before, when Joe'd risked his life
for him.

Joe started again, "D'you wanna talk to anyone?"

"Not really."

"Are you sure there's not something you'd like to get off your mind?"

TK hesitated, trying to decide what to say. He opted to be blunt. "Matt's
dead."

"Yeah," Joe agreed, sighing, "We all miss him."

"And it's my fault." TK added.

"Don't say that!!!" Joe exclaimed. He blushed as he caught a few
stares from the others in the room--Mimi sitting alone in a chair, the Izumi's
mounting a dry-erase marker board for the later meeting, and Tsunomon, too
upset to join the other Digimon for dinner.

Joe fought back the crimson that flushed his face. He wasn't used to these
situations, and hoped he'd say the right thing.

He exhaled, re-focusing on the conversation. "It's no one's fault,
really."

"But I told Angemon to shoot."

"What's that have to do with it?" Joe asked, "You weren't alone.
From what I've heard, Gennai told us the prophecy, Izzy and Tentomon figured it
out, Matt and Tai gave the final order, the Angels _did_ fire, and Kari was
with you the whole time."

TK wiped away tears, letting Joe's words seep in. "Thanks, Joe."

"Anytime."

"I mean, this is sorta like Me'n Matt. When I was sad, he always knew just
what to say--"

TK began to break down again, and Joe abruptly changed the subject, "So...anything
else bothering you?"

TK sniffled, "Where's Patamon?"

--------------

Joe watched TK, cautiously. The younger boy seemed way out of it, and the older
one worried silently for him from his seat, across the table and one seat back.

Actually, Joe couldn't blame the kid. He couldn't begin to imagine being half
the age he was now, and having already lost a brother, mother, and best friend.
The kid had been through a lot.

---------------

"Patamon?" the older boy had stuttered nervously. "Wh-where's
Patamon?"

"That's what I asked."

Great one, Joe. Out of the frying pan, into the fire.

"Uh..." he nervously responded, "Back at the fight...none of us
really knew what to do. Kari was the only one thinking straight, and made a
call. She had Angemon and Angewomon follow from behind to guard a
retreat."

Joe choked, realizing the severity of what he was telling this boy. He
continued, barely holding back tears, "We weren't fast enough; if we
didn't leave someone, none of us would make it. Angemon...Angemon realized
that, and decided he'd be the one to stay. He fought well, but just the fact
that he hasn't shown up by now..."

TK didn't want to hear more, but knew he had to.

"We barely made it out as it was. I don't know what would've happened if
he hadn't...hadn't stayed."

"I get it." TK said, feeling he had to say something. Anything. Then,
it was too much, and he cried.

"Joe," he said between sobs, "Thank you."

"For what?"

"For telling the truth." he replied, "And for knowing just what
to say."

Joe, as reliable as his crest could demand, hugged the boy reassuringly, and
the younger one cried on the older one's shoulder.

"Hey," he soothed, "What else would a big brother do?"

---------------

Izzy nodded his own approval of Kari's speech. She'd just gracefully told
everyone of her's and Izzy's coalition. They'd all accepted it, for exactly the
same reasons Kari had said they would.

And as if to confirm a part of what she'd said, he could see the lost look in
TK's eyes that showed just how "hung up" he was. He hoped the kid
would be okay.

Hoped he could depend on the kid.

But he didn't have any more time to reflect; Kari gestured, and he took the
stage.

"After analyzing the events over the past few days," he began,
falling into the speech he'd loosely prepared in his mind, "I've come to a
few conclusions. Most importantly, however, VenomMyotismon constantly needs a
higher supply of energy than that he already possesses. He can devour other
forms for it, and was more than willing to sacrifice his best henchmen for it.
He had a steady supply lined up in the convention center, but filled up pretty
well over Angemon's sacrifice. That bought them some time, but it's not much.
If we hurry, we can still save some of them.

"In a few hours, we'll be leaving on a rescue operation. Ideally, we'll
save all the people we can. Realistically, there _will_ be casualties.
Digidestined, like it or not, are all going. Civilians, it's your call, but we
need all the help we can get. I'll understand if you want out."

"We're with you, Izzy!" Jim called, rising to a stand. He collected
stares from around the table, and blushed wordlessly into the sanctuary of his
seat.

"No, he's go the right idea." Kari rescued, "A little enthusiasm
can only help, right?" She turned to him, "Just make sure your
initiative doesn't disrupt your ability to follow orders."

He nodded, stone-faced.

"Okay," Izzy announced, regaining everyone's attention, "For
this mission, we'll be breaking into two teams.

"The first team will perform the actual evacuation. Led by TK, the
civilians will move people out of the building. Jim, should he go, will be
exempt; he'll probably be busy giving medical attention where needed. Tsunomon,
I know I'm asking a lot, but if you could digivolve into Garurumon, even just
for a little bit, it'd help a lot. Anyone else, help where you can. Everyone
understand?"

Everyone nodded.

"Good," he acknowledged, "Now then...me, Kari, Joe, and Mimi,
accompanied by our digimon, will have team two. We'll start out by helping where
we can, probably going Champion to shuttle people. If VenomMyotismon shows up,
we'll go Ultimate, and do our best to hold him back. If anyone's got any
suggestions as to how, they'd be useful right about now."

No one answered, their faces falling. _This_ was the plan they were relying on
to save a city's population?

Izzy sighed, "I didn't want to rely on this, but we don't have an
alternative. It's a long shot, at best. I noticed that tag-team efforts seem to
work for us, strategically speaking. Zudomon was able to add his efforts here
at the tower because Garudamon carried him up. I've been told how WereGarurumon
rode a Giga Blaster to advance against VenomMyotismon. It's not much of a plan,
but it may help."

Salamon chimed in, "When I was Angewomon, I could deflect VenomMyotismon's
attacks. We might be able to use that to get in close."

"That's the spirit!" Izzy encouraged, "Let's see what else we
can come up with before we go.

"Oh, and one last thing--we only got away last time because of Angemon. I'm
not going to lie to you; we have no idea how we're going to get away this time.
There may be more Angemons before we win this war.

"But we _will_ win. We can't afford not to."

------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------

"Angemon's dead?" Takeru asked. Joe
nodded.

"What kind of a cruel, messed up place
is this? I lose my Brother, _and_ my best friend?"

Daisuke laughed, "Watch out! We might
lose _you_ next!"

Hikari shot him a look, that said quite a bit
more than a simple 'back down.' Daisuke hung his head, shamed. "It's okay,
Takeru." Hikari assured, "It'll work out in the end."

Joe replied, "Oh, if it only
did..."

------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------



"What
If?"

PART
FOUR

Release
Date: 7.10.00



----------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------

"Are we there yet?" an anxious
Koromon asked.

"Aww, quit whining!" Biyomon protested, "At least someone's
carrying you. My wings are getting tired!"

"Oh yeah?" Koromon challenged, "Well, no one just killed your
best friend."

"So you're blaming _me_ for Tai's death?"

"You said it, not me."

"Keep that up and you won't be saying much else for a while either."

"Stop it, both of you!" Sora barked, tears welling in her eyes. The
pain in her voice and glow from her crest were more than enough to convince
them to oblige.

Sora marched grimly on. No one spoke; everyone lost in thought. Herself, she
thought of her lost love. Of how he'd been torn away from her. And the bitch of
a sister that'd done it.

Koromon bounced happily in Sora's arms. Sure, he missed Tai; who wouldn't? But
he liked Sora, and saw why Tai did. She was caring, and thoughtful, and didn't
look all that bad--for a human.

Biyomon flapped on their left, looking forwards, but not seeing. The nerve of
Koromon! Letting his human die, and then trying to take her Sora from her! She
understood their losses, but didn't have to like it.

The trio climbed over another pile of rubble, clearing the top. From the vantage
point, they could finally see their destination: the convention center.
Miraculously, one of the few structures left unscathed.

Sora stopped, Biyomon landed, and Koromon shifted in his new keeper's arms.
They gazed upon their target, only wondering what they might find.

---------------

Elsewhere, other forces were eyeing up the same target.

"Okay," Izzy began, "Everyone remember the plan. TK and the
civilians get ready to help however you can. Everyone else, keep your guard up.
And keep an ear out for Kari or me. We're splitting into two groups, so it
depend which one you're with."

"We're not here to be heroes," Kari added, "That's not what this
is about. It's about people, and trying to save them from a murdering tyrant.
It's about helping them, because if we didn't, we'd be no worse than the guy
we're saving them from."

Her crest glowed as her light touched them all. As if confirming it all, they
knew, without a doubt, that she was right.

They reached the convention center, and still she gave orders, coordinating
forces. She never stopped, ever making sure people were in the right place,
even making sure there wouldn't be any more Angemon's. She'd give anything to
keep them safe.

In many ways, she was a better leader than her late brother, but she lacked the
trust in her companions' skills that they might be okay on their own.

"Lillymon, Angewomon; take sentry positions in the air. Keep an eye out
for VenomMyotismon. Everyone else, load everyone you can onto Megakabuterrimon
and Zudomon. They'll shuttle them out."

But where to? she realized. They'd made this move because they had to.
But now she wondered if they were prepared enough.

Was there really anywhere these people would be safe? Anywhere they'd be hidden
from VenomMyotismon?

Anywhere she could protect them?

---------------

From an empty doorway, three heads emerged from one side, scouting out one of
the main chambers of the convention center. Their reconnaissance complete, two
bodies followed. Seeing no sign of danger, Sora and her two companions moved
wordlessly among the labyrinth of bodies.

They had only one goal: to find Sora's mother. Searching, they tiptoed amongst
the myriad of people, hoping for the best.

Koromon hopped freely, finding himself of little use. He'd never met the woman,
and had no idea what she looked like.

He heard a door open. He would've called in alarm, but the following voice did
that for him.

"Sora?"

"Huh?" the feminine, so-usually-confident voice asked,
"TK?"

The 8-year-old boy didn't reply. Instead, dropping Tsunomon, he turned,
"Hey, guys! I found Sora!"

Mr. and Mrs. Izumi ran in after, led by their son. Mimi followed, a few steps
behind.

Izzy, doing his best to keep the uncertainty from his voice, started giving
orders, "Okay: start over there. Take as many people as you can, and load
them on to Megakabuterrimon. I'll help in a minute."

As he hopped over to Sora, the girl asked, "So, they put you in charge,
huh? Good call."

"Uh, actually..." he blushed, "Kari's in charge. She left me
with them while she took Joe and the others in the next room."

"You're letting the Bitch lead you?!?!?"

They attracted a few stares. She glared back at Koromon, who suddenly decided
to busy himself trying to drag another body. Biyomon and Tsunomon came to help,
and they comically waddled out. Sora and Izzy waited for them to exit through
the door.

"She's not a bitch." Izzy protested, in a hushed, but admiring tone.
"She's done a great job--you should really give her a chance."

Sora's jaw dropped, "Oh. My. God."

"What?"

"You like her, don't you?"

"Wha--? I don't know what you're talking about."

She ignored him, adding spitefully, "And I thought you had the crest of
Knowledge."

He reeled back, hurt. Betrayed.

His hand moved to his cheek, as if he'd been slapped. His eyes narrowed, jaw
tightened, face darkened. "Well, I guess I know who the bitch is now,
don't I?"

"Izzy!" Mimi interrupted, before Sora could retort, "When're you
gonna help? Megakabuterrimon is ready to go. He's waiting for the okay from
you."

"Coming!" he called, heading for the door.

Mimi turned to Sora, "I don't know what that was all about, but we could
really use your help."

"I'm not sure your esteemed leadership would accept it."

"Forget them. This isn't about anything between you guys. It's about
saving people."

"You're right." Sora agreed. She ran outside the door Izzy left
through, relieved to find he'd already left.

"Biyomon," she started. She would've said more, but Biyomon
understood, in a way only a best friend would. In a way Koromon never would.

She almost smiled.

Biyomon, digivolve to ... Birdramon!
Birdramon, digivolve to ... Garudamon!

Everyone ran back inside to gather more people.

---------------

"Joe, can Zudomon take any more?" Kari asked, rushed to beat the
clock.

"One more, but I wouldn't push it any more than that, if we can avoid
it."

"Fine." she turned, nodding to Jim and Mr. Ishida. "Take that
one," she said, pointing to a brown-haired woman. She knew either one of
them could carry her on their own, but neither had eaten in hours, skipping at
least a day's meals.

Moments later, the pair returned from outside, where Zudomon had been loading.
Jim was about to report, but was interrupted as something smashed through the
ceiling, and into a wall. The wall cracked, and the slumped form dropped to the
ground. Closer inspection revealed it to be Lillymon.

The ultimate digimon glowed, reverting back into Palmon. From above,
VenomMyotismon laughed.

Light dawned on Kari. Staring face to face with her adversary, she knew she
couldn't protect these people, not if she herself was to live.

She came here doing what was right, and she would die doing what was right. Any
less was impossible; VenomMyotismon was too powerful.

VenomMyotismon caught the fire in her eyes. Oh, how he was going to enjoy
destroying this one. He pulled back, charging an especially powerful burst of
his attack. Kari didn't flinch.

"So this is the mighty Eighth Child." he sneered, "This is the
one that will defeat me?"

Kari, ever defiant, met his gaze, "You may strike me down, but the end is
near." C'mon, guys, use this time to escape, "Whatever power
you may bring to bear against me will be brought to bear ten-fold against
you."

"Nonsense," he countered, "I am destined to plunge this world
into darkness."

Kari's voice remained neutral. Bluntly, she replied, "Then you are
destined to fail."

VenomMyotismon scowled. Would this girl never back down? Impatient, he fired,
he beam lighting up the air as it flew.

And Hikari Kamiya, the savior of two worlds, was consumed by light.

----------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------

"Now Hikari's dead?" Daisuke asked,
unbelieving.

"Better watch out, Daisuke! We might
lose you next!"

God, Daisuke hated how that boy spun that
around back at him.

"No." Joe answered, prompting a
sigh of relief. "At least, not yet." he amended.

Hikari gulped an unspoken gulp.

"I don't want to hear any more!"
Miyako whined, "This story's too depressing!"

"But Miyako!" Hawkmon protested,
"We have to hear! It's the only way we can help him!"

"I don't want to cause trouble." Joe
added. "I'm only telling this because you asked. I'd just as soon
leave."

"Don't leave." Hikari said,
"He really _do_ want to help."

"Okay," he replied, somewhat convinced.

------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------



"What
If?"

PART
FIVE

Release
Date: 8.23.00

---------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------

Mr. Ishida coughed from the dust in the air.
It caked his lungs and burned in his chest, until it was all he could do not to
give up and die. Finally, with a severely hoarse throat, he could breathe.

"Everyone okay?" he choked out. Barely.

"I think so." Jim groaned, "At least, nothing's broken."

"What about you, Joe?" Mr. Ishida asked. Nothing.

"Joe?" Jim added. But his brother was no where to be seen.
"Joe!"

Mr. Ishida could sense the anguish in Jim's voice--it was hard not to.
Reassuringly, he comforted, "It's okay, son. I'm sure he's just fine."

"Son?" What the Hell was that? Hmph, must be getting old...

"No." Jim replied, "We both know he's dead." Mr. Ishida
nodded, grimly.

Jim cracked a smile, "I guess I know how T.K. felt, huh?"

T.K.? Where was he? Was he okay?

Mr. Ishida looked back at the building he and the Kido boy had dove from. There
was nothing left; the entire center lay in crumbling ruin, a crater filled by
rubble.

"T.K.!"

---------------

"Daddy?" T.K. asked, opening his eyes. What happened? Where was he?
And why did he hear his daddy?

All he remembered was standing in the convention center. He was being a big
boy, and helping move the people out. Then, something hit the wall from the
other side, and he went to check it out. Venom Myotismon was there, glaring at
Kari. Then he fired at them...

Am I dead? Did Venom Myotismon get me? If I am dead...

Then where's Matt?

He looked around, hoping to see his brother. He didn't see anything. ANYTHING.
He was floating in an empty void, an endless expanse of nothingness.

No, not empty. Kari was there. And Sora. And Izzy, and Mimi, and Joe, and all
the Digimon. The digidestined: Earth's last hope.

But if we are dead...

He didn't want to think about it. He sat down, tucked his knees, and waited.

---------------

Koromon looked up. It looked like the others were still out cold. He didn't
know where they were, or how they got there. All he saw were the collapsed
forms of his comrades.

It was so quiet; maybe he'd join them. After all, if trouble showed up, he'd
hear them long before they became a problem.

He was just closing his eyes when he heard, "Daddy?"

Well, at least T.K. was up. But he didn't seem too happy. Koromon watched,
silently, as the boy looked around, glancing left, right, left. Finally and
solemnly, the boy curled up, and fell asleep.

Koromon wished there was something he could do to help, something to cheer the
kid up. He cocked his head (or the closest approximation for someone who
doesn't have a neck), and thought.

Sora'd been pretty sad lately too. When she'd carried him, he could hear the
sobs she bit back--he'd gotten used to keeping an ear out for them. Whenever
they came on, she'd squeeze him pretty tight. Then, reassured, she'd loosen up
and carry on normally.

And how better could Koromon help to reassure the boy?

Quietly, so as not to disturb the others (he knew they were alive; he could see
them breathing), he hopped over to the boy, and squirmed into his arms.

T.K. looked up, cracking a smile, "Thanks, Koromon."

----------------

Mimi stirred. She wasn't ready to wake up, but it was cold. She reached to pull
the blanket around her more tightly, but couldn't find it. She reached again;
nothing. She opened her eyes.

Nothing.

She saw the others lying around, likewise sleeping.

"Hey, guys!" She called, "Wake up!"

Everyone rose, groggily. Well, everyone but Kari. Her body lie still, unmoving.

Why wasn't she getting up? Of course! Venom Myotismon had attacked her.
Wherever they were, her body had came with them.

And the Digidestined were down yet another leader.

She heard someone, Sora, speak, "Where are we?"

The reply from Izzy, "No idea."

"In this world, there is a balance of darkness and light. The light
represents the good in the world, and the darkness is evil."

Who said that?

"The darkness becomes more than the light, it upsets the balance."

Kari? But she's dead, right?

---------------

"See anyone else?" Mr. Ishida prompted.

"Sorry, sir." Jim replied, "There's no one left; The other kids,
Mr. and Mrs. Izumi, even the Digimon. All gone."

"Then we're all that's left?"

"It would appear so."

Mr. Ishida sighed. This was not turning out to be one of his better days.

Of course, that was an understatement.

It was too much to believe; everyone in the city gone. Rounded up into the
convention center, only to be slaughtered. The heroes who went to save them
were lost in the attack. It was just him and Jim, against the menace of
VenomMyotismon.

"Did you hear that?"

Mr. Ishida snapped out of it. "Hear what?"

"I think there's something over that way." Jim said, pointing.

But what? VenomMyotismon--no, we'd already be dead. One of his henchmen; He
consumed them all to boost his own energy. Then what?

Whatever it was, it couldn't make things any worse.

"Alright. Let's go check it out."

---------------

Izzy was ecstatic; All this knowledge being given freely to him all at once.
Dimensional Divides, Corrupted Digimon, Piedmon and the Dark Masters; all this
knowledge, all his. It would've been a dream come true.

Would've.

It wouldn't be worth it without Kari.

He'd appreciated the girl the last few days. She'd been a strong leader, and a
caring person. At the convention center, she'd been willing to sacrifice
herself to save the lives of those she was responsible for. Perhaps that was
what triggered her crest to take them all here; he didn't know. He didn't care.
All these answers, they just didn't feel right if it meant he'd never have Kari
back.

He didn't know for sure if she'd be gone forever. If this spirit would leave
her alone afterwards. He was too scared to ask. Too scared what the answer
might be.

Then, Sora asked what they'd all been wondering: "Why didn't the prophecy
work?"

"A rare miscalculation. It's been explained to you from the beginning: the
Digimon digivolve by borrowing energy from their partners. The arrows should've
added power to Tai and Matt's reserves to help Agumon and Gabumon digivolve one
step further."

Two more holograms appeared. Each of them rotated slowly, allowing the children
to see them from all sides.

On the left, the first was of an orange dinosaur, much like Greymon. Unlike
Greymon, it sported armor in addition to it's skin. It's lower legs were
covered by metallic shin guards, and it's chest shielded by armor to match. The
arms: large bronze-colored gauntlets, with huge claws to supplement the ones
tucked inside. It's back sported the Courage emblem from the crest of Courage.

On the right, the second looked almost like Garurumon. A metal Garurumon. In
addition to it's robotic body, however, it also had wings and a tail; both
sleek looking, and both decidedly dangerous. Beams of light extended from
cracks in the armor, cracks that were in no way weaknesses. They allowed
movement for the joints; and the way this thing moved, they could only help
him.

"Behold, Agumon and Gabumon's Mega forms, WarGreymon and MetalGarurumon.
Both are fearsome to behold, and powerful to battle. Easily two of the
strongest Digimon in existence."

"But, if the arrows were specially created to bring about these new
Digimon, why didn't they work?" Sora asked.

"Despite our infinite wisdom, we forgot to take into account the obvious.
The arrows were designed as a battery, a means of adding power to the reserves
already contained. But the delivery was designed as a weapon, meant to attack
the dark forces of evil."

"Evil?" T.K. asked, "But Tai and Matt were the good guys."

"They allowed their minds to be clouded by fear. Courage, although prone
to ego or desperation, cannot exist it the face of fear. And when fear is too
much, it disrupts proper judgment, an important part of being a good friend.
Without their special traits to fall back on, the two boys were corrupted by
fear. The fear that they might fail.

"Such Irony."

"That still doesn't explain why the arrows killed them."

"Fear literally is one of the dark forces: Anger, Fear, Aggression. Fear
leads to Anger, Anger leads to Hate, Hate leads to Suffering."

"Great, I knew I should've watched more 'Star Wars'." Joe remarked.

"This is no laughing matter." Kari...well, Kari's voice countered,
"Out of the infinity of the universe, only in this world did the Prophecy
gambit fail."

"Gambit? You risked Tai's life when you didn't even know if it would
work?" Sora, of course.

"Sora, calm down, please." Izzy cautioned.

"Oh, of course you're defending _her_."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Calm down! No fighting!" Mimi protested, "Izzy's right. And I'd
like to hear more."

Sora grumbled, but backed down.

"There are many different universes in existence. This is only one.
Normally, I wouldn't do this, but perhaps you could provide some insight as to
why this one turned out so different."

Another image appeared, replacing those of WarGreymon and MetalGarurumon. It
showed a team of eight digidestined floating in midair in a black expanse, a
very large and very sinister opponent facing them.

"What's this?" Izzy asked.

"In this world, the Gambit worked, and VenomMyotismon was defeated. The
Digidestined returned to the Digiworld, only to find it'd been taken over by
the Dark Masters." She paused, but they nodded, understanding, having
heard of Piedmon and the Dark Masters almost upon their arrival to this little
workshop. "One by one, they defeated the Dark Masters, becoming stronger
people from it. Finally, with all the Dark Masters defeated, they thought it
was over. Gennai approached them, informing them that all was not over: they
still had to defeat the Evil that created the Dark Masters.

"Hence Apocalymon, whom you see here. He's literally the essence of all
that is evil in the Digiworld, created from the pure sorrow of all that was
lost in the digivolving process. In this other world, the Digidestined are
currently facing him. He tried to defeat them by breaking them down and sending
them to the Data World, but they escaped. Let's watch."

They watched in silence as the battle unfolded. They saw Lillymon save Mimi,
knocking out one of Apocalymon's claws, and Zudomon save them from another. A
third approached them, but was stopped by--

"Hey," T.K. asked, "Who's that with me?"

"MagnaAngemon." Kari's voice replied, bluntly, enraptured by the
battle.

"_Magna_ Angemon?"

"Angemon's Ultimate form." came the explanation.

"Oh." T.K. replied, as if he understood. He didn't, but he knew to be
a big boy and wait.

As for the spirit, this was her chance to see everything she'd worked for from
another perspective. She and her colleagues were charged with balancing the
forces of good and evil; and with a force of evil as powerful as Apocalymon,
they'd been hard-pressed to compensate, even summoning the Digidestined. In any
world, it was tough.

The other world would make it. But would hers? With two of the heroes down, and
one of their Digimon--arguably the strongest of their Digimon, out of the
fight, could they really stop the evil? And what about after VenomMyotismon?
With the time difference, the Dark Masters of her world had more time to
consolidate their power. Already, she'd witnessed events that any one of which
could ultimately lead to the world's destruction. Would she be able to maintain
the balance she'd worked so long to preserve?

Right now, she didn't care. She just relaxed, taking a few minutes to enjoy
another's triumph, another victory over the severe evil. Unattached,
unimportant; just herself, enjoying a victory that she knew she'd never see.

In the other world, Sora said something, as she and Garudamon flew in. She
hopped onto MegaKabuterrimon as Garudamon stopped another claw, then she and
Izzy hopped back as MegaKabuterrimon took his turn. Then, finally, WarGreymon
and MetalGarurumon attacked, the impacts injuring Apocalymon severely. He
tucked himself into his support structure, and it started spinning wildly. The
Digivices lit up, letting their beams out, which imprisoned the structure,
containing the following explosion.

"And that's the revelation that was to be. If you'd defeated
VenomMyotismon initially. Not guaranteed, of course, but the potential is
strong--_was_ strong." she corrected.

"And what are we to do now?" Joe asked.

"I honestly do not know." the spirit replied, "Such an
occurrence was never taken into account. Since your arrival, I've had Tsunomon
and Koromon scanned; They definitely have the WarGreymon and MetalGarurumon
programs within them, and they've taken to their new partners well. There's no
reason why they shouldn't be able to reach these levels, even despite all the
recent events. But, with Angemon gone, they'll require a new power source to
make it possible."

"What sort of power source?" Mimi asked.

"Once again, I do not know. You'll have to develop one on your own. I,
likewise, will continue my work, trying to assist you in any way possible.
However, after this point, I will be unable to communicate with you. Unlike
Gennai, I can not E-Mail you with updates. A meeting such as this requires
tremendous power, and are nearly impossible to attempt more than once. Pulling
you out of the Convention Center like this seemed a convenient way to save your
lives, and I also thought you'd want to know the truth."

"The Convention Center!" Sora exclaimed, "Did we save them?"

"Other than the few you recovered, none of the captives survived. I'm
sorry."

Sora was shocked. She looked like she'd taken a slap to the face. Mom...

"What about our people? Did the four of them make it out?" Izzy
prompted.

"Three did."

"Three? What about the fourth?"

----------------

"Mr. Ishida! Jim! Come over here, quick!"

The two picked up the pace, jogging over to where Mr. Izumi kneeled.

"Jim, you're a Medical Student; Save my wife!" the man cried.

"I'm sorry, sir, there's not much I can do."

He was right. Mrs. Izumi lied, buried under rubble, her top half now exposed
from the fallen concrete. Her lower half; even hidden from his sight as it was,
it was easy to tell that even if she'd lived, she'd never walk again. And that
was a very big if.

She lay there, lifeless: unmoving, unbreathing. Her skin was paler than ever,
her face frozen in a state of shock. Her eyes were open, rolled back, and
bloodshot.

Mr. Izumi had hoped he was seeing things, but Jim had confirmed it: the woman
he loved was dead.

"No." he protested, "Not like this. What did she ever do to
deserve this?"

Mr. Ishida didn't answer. He felt sorry for the man, but he himself had lost
his family too. Likewise in Jim's case. Determination set in; this war had cost
them too much to back down now. No matter what the cost.

"We're all that's left." he explained. "The kids are gone, and
Mrs. Izumi, dead. But we must carry on. We must finish what they started, so
their souls may be put to rest."

Jim and Mr. Izumi nodded in grim acceptance.

"There's not much we can do now. I've got some resources of my own, back
in the TV station. An investigative reporter must always be prepared. My
department has some equipment set aside for dangerous investigations--and this
is as dangerous as we'll ever see. Let's go there, and see what we can get a
hold of."

Jim agreed, "I've got some supplies of my own at my apartment."

Mr. Izumi added, "And my computer can get us everything from maps of the
city to satellite surveillance."

"Even through the fog?" Jim asked.

"Oh. My mistake."

"We can't afford to make any more mistakes." Mr. Ishida informed.
"If this is going to work, we can't afford any. We'll have to use military
precision. Kido, you're our new medic. Izumi, systems analyst, and since I
doubt we'll need that all that much, driver. I'll be our infiltrator and scout.
There's only one rule: Everyone fights, nobody quits. If you do, I'll kill you
myself. Do you get me?"

They replied mockingly, but surprisingly in unison, "We get you,
sir!"

"Let's move out. Kido, meet us at the lobby of the TV station in one hour.
Be prompt. The sooner you're there, the sooner we can get planning. Myotismon
won't be holding anything back; we can't afford to either.

"If it's a fight he wants, then it's a fight he'll get."

------------------------------------------------------------ --------------------

"So, the spirit visited you too."
Takeru commented.

"Yeah, so?" Joe asked.

"I was wondering how that'd work out.
When she came to us--"

"--WarGreymon and MetalGarurumon were
fighting." Joe's companion finished. Takeru nodded. "I remember it
well."

"But if the arrows didn't work, then
there's no WarGreymon or MetalGarurumon, is there?" Hikari asked.

Joe smiled ironically at the third member of
his party. He was definitely a Digimon, although what type was beyond any of
them. He replied with a knowing nod, and beckoned for Jyou to continue."

"You'll know, soon enough."

--------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------



"What
If?"

PART
SIX

Release
Date: 8.31.00

---------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------

"It's 5:47. The boy has three minutes
left. He better be here."

"Jim? He's got a good head on his shoulders; he'll be here." Izumi
reassured his colleague.

Ishida repeated, "He's got three minutes."

He made it in two.

Jim barreled through the revolving door; it shuddered as his shoulder hit. Even
after he left it, it still spun for moments to come.

Once reaching the two adults, he doubled over, greedily sucking in air. His
lungs burned; both from the run and from the dust still stinging the insides.
He dropped his bag at their feet; a bag much like Joe's, but filled more. Much
more.

"Sorry if I'm late." he apologized, gasping.

"What?" Ishida asked, "Not used to running?"

"No, nothing like that." Jim corrected, "Just this bag is
_loaded_."

"Huh? A med-kit can't take that much, can it?" Ishida asked,
skeptical.

"A first aid kit doesn't have much to it. Bandages, cleaners, and
the like. But unfortunately, with the city gone, a first aid kit just won't cut
it. First aid kits are for minor injuries, or slowing major ones until they can
get fixed up somewhere else. We, unfortunately, don't have that luxury."

"So leave some of it behind."

"I figured I wouldn't get the chance. We have to stay on the move; this
was the bare minimum, taking the somewhat-likely injuries into account."

"Whatever." Ishida dismissed, finding himself at a loss. "C'mon,
let's move."

The three of them retreated into the basement of the building. As the elevator
descended, Izumi got the feeling this was taking a little long for just a
basement. He voiced his concern.

"This ain't no ordinary basement." Ishida replied, as if that
explained it all.

"What's different?"

"First off, it doubled as a bomb shelter during the Cold War between the
Americans and Soviets. Everyone was afraid of another World War, so we tried to
be prepared. When the Cold War ended, we converted the building into the TV
station."

Izumi nodded, prompting for more information. Jim stared, attentively.

"And second, it's a stockpile we put together, when we did a story on
domestic violence and law enforcement. We've got an assortment of guns, ammo,
and armor."

The elevator stopped, and the doors opened.

"We're here." Ishida announced, stating the obvious. "Take
whatever you can." Then he amended, eyeing Jim's bag, "If you
can."

---------------

Only three of them made it. Izzy thought to himself. And I don't know
who the unlucky one was. I wouldn't wish death on anyone, but statistically
speaking, odds are if anyone loses someone, it'll be me. Please don't let it be
me.

Aloud he chocked out, "So, which one didn't make it?"

The spirit inside Kari replied, "It's hard to tell; all I can feel is that
where once there were four life signs, there are now three. Would you like me
to check?"

"Please do. We need to know what resources are still available to
us." Ouch Izzy though, in hindsight, That was cold...

"One moment, please."

They waited; Joe's and Izzy's eyes were pleading, praying, hoping. T.K. didn't
understand that much, but he knew to worry. Sora, still reeling from her own
losses, wasn't any different. Still hurt, still devastated.

"I sense Mr. Ishida and Mr. Izumi." the spirit began. Joe's and Izzy's
expressions still didn't change, and T.K., seeing that their's didn't, his
didn't either. "And...I'm sorry, Izzy."

Joe would've sighed in relief, if not for knowing that someone else was gone.
Izzy's head hung, pained and sorrowed. He'd known the odds were against him,
but he'd still hoped.

Somehow, he managed to swallow back the hurt, stepping into his role as leader
with Kari...incapacitated. "We can't afford to lose anyone else; there's
been too many already. If at all possible, we need to go back, and finish this
once-and-for-all. Can you help us, spirit?"

"Yes, I can send you back. To the battlefield, perhaps? Or would you
prefer the TV station?"

"The TV station will be fine." Izzy answered. "Uh, spirit? When
we go, will Kari go with us?"

"Once you have left, I will no longer require her to communicate with you.
She will be released."

"Good. We leave immediately."

---------------

"Are we good to go?" Ishida asked, dressed for war. He'd broken out a
few sets of camo, which they all now wore. To supplement it, he'd chosen
night-vision goggles, binoculars, flares, a walkie-talkie, a canteen full of
water, two handguns holstered at the hips, and a shoulder mounted rocket
launcher--complete with ammunition.

"I am." Jim replied, likewise dressed in the camo. His med-pack had
given way to an exterior-frame pack, sternum and waist straps buckled. He also
carried a walkie-talkie, canteen, and a heavy shotgun. For ammo, he wore two
bandoliers: one armor piercing slugs, one explosive.

"Just a sec'." Izumi warned, from his own spot at the back of the
room. "I'm just trying to get this, but it's wedged in. Maybe you guys
could help?"

Ishida sighed, almost annoyed, but Jim was still happy. Both moved to help the
other man in his struggle.

They saw what he was talking about. A shelf of weaponry had been overstocked,
making it nearly impossible to get any of it out. Izumi was going for
Demolitions materiel, and was having a hard time of it.

"All right." Ishida ordered, as he and Jim grabbed the box, "On
three, pull. One, two, three!"

The three of them pulled, using all their strength. In a huge cloud of dust,
the entire shelf came down, followed by the drywall it'd been mounted to. All
three men coughed, wafting the dust away from their faces, with little success.
Finally, when the dust settled, they could see beyond the wall, into a room
they'd never imagined existed.

"Uh, the assault can wait 'til nightfall. Jim, head top-side and take a
lookout position; me'n the techie here are gonna get this stuff checked
out."

---------------

Jim walked out the rotating door he'd hit on the way in. He didn't like where
this rebellion was going; treated like an adult when they need the extra help,
and like a kid when they found something better to do. Of all the nerve...

Sure, he admitted they were more qualified to check out that stuff. Izumi spent
a lot of time working with electronics, and Ishida worked in the building, but
still, they should give him _some_ consideration.

What _were_ those things in that room, anyways? They were obviously some sort
of Mecha, but like none he'd ever seen.

His pondering was cut short by 13 figures appearing in midair above him, then
collapsing in a heap on him.

Izzy stood, taking charge, "Everybody okay?"

Replying in turn, they all answered:

Mimi, "I'm fine."

Sora, "Me too."

Joe, "Nothing's broken."

T.K., "I'm okay."

Kari, "What happened?"

Izzy opened his mouth to fill her in, but found himself cut off. "I'd like
to know the same thing!"

"Jim!" Joe exclaimed, "It's great to see you! Is everything
alright?"

"It will be: once you guys all get off me."

They all humbly obliged, breaking up the dogpile and dusting themselves off.

"So," Jim asked, once everyone was clear, "What _did_
happen?"

"I'll fill you in in a moment. Where're Mr. Ishida and my dad?"

So, at least he knows what he missed on our end... "Inside. I've
got sentry duty."

"Which leads to my next question: What's with the camo?"

Or maybe not... "Long story. I'll fill you in, if you want."

Izzy turned to the others. "Set up a sentry out here. Gatomon, digivolve
and take a high lookout position, but stay hidden. Everyone else, stay here,
but keep an eye out. If there's any trouble, have Tentomon come get us. Kari,
you're with me."

Everyone scattered, setting up in strategic positions. Izzy turned to Jim,
"I think I'll take you up on your offer. C'mon, let's go inside."

---------------

"What are these things?" Izumi asked his colleague, confused.

"I've got no idea. We never covered this stuff in investigative training."

"That one on the left looks like a tank, almost. I'm not sure about the
other ones."

"Whatever they are, we can use them. They read 'weapon' all over
them."

"Yes, we _could_ use them." Izumi agreed, hesitant, "But would
it be safe to? We'll have to get them checked out."

"Exactly what we'll be doing now." Ishida agreed, "And if you
don't mind..."

"Uh, excuse me, sir?" a voice piped up. A child's voice.

Mr. Izumi thought, turning, What? One of those evacuees woke up already?

"Kari! Izzy!" He yelled, surprised.

"What?!?!" Izumi yelled, happily, "They're alive?"

"Either that, or we're dead." Ishida joked. No one laughed.

"If you don't mind, we need your help." Izzy continued, "We've
decided that it's high time to bring an end to VenomMyotismon
once-and-for-all."

"As have we." Ishida agreed.

"Good." Kari replied, picking up where Izzy left off. "Then
you'll understand that if we fail, you guy's'll have to lead the people we
rescued to safety."

"Nuh, uh. I see where this is leading; We are _going_ to help in the
fight, and that's final." Ishida protested.

"I'm sorry, sir, but someone needs to help these people out, and seeing
how you have no digimon, you adults are at a disadvantage in battle."

"Now look, missy. If you think I'm gonna listen to a kid--"

"That's exactly what she's asking." Izzy interrupted. "She is
asking that you put a little faith in a kid, 'cause right now that kid is
what's holding this whole insurrection together. She got us all out of there
when we could've all died. VenomMyotismon could've fried us at his leisure, but
she'd been alert enough and thinking well enough to get us out of there. The
past week can't have been easy for her; finding out she's the Eighth Child,
meeting Gatomon, losing Wizardmon, and now, her brother. She's grown up a lot,
and in spite of all that's happened, has managed to pull us all together into a
formidable team. You should be proud of this girl, not defensive of her.

"Kari, as well as you've done, we can't totally ignore Mr. Ishida either.
He's been in the middle of this as much as any of us. He helped us interpret
the prophecy, plan our rebellion, and he's found these resources here for us.
When he thought we were dead, he was more-than-prepared to take on this
operation himself. It's doubtful he'd have succeeded; digimon are extremely
more durable than humans are, and this arsenal might not be enough to slow down
VenomMyotismon. But he had the duty and courage to keep trying, not because he
thought he'd succeed, but because he knew it was _right_. Don't count him out
either.

Now, both of you, we'll need to work _together_ if we're going to stop
VenomMyotismon, not arguing. I've got to plan an assault, now, and if the two
of you are done bickering, I could use your help. If we're going to war, we'll
need to be prepared, and I can't take the risk that I might miss
something."

"You? Who says _you_ get to plan this?" Ishida protested.

"Everyone did, the day after the Prophecy fell through. Kari's our field
commander, and I'm our strategist."

Ishida glanced at Izumi, then Jim, searching for support. He didn't want to be
counted out of this, but Izzy was likely to take the girl's side in this, and
Izumi, his.

Eventually, he gave in. "All right, I'll help. What do you want me to
do?"

"Jim, Dad, keep checking out those Mecha's." Izzy ordered,
"Kari, Mr. Ishida, come with me. We've got a war to plan."

----------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------

"Good. VenomMyotismon's going
down!" Daisuke exclaimed.

"Yes, he did." Joe agreed,
"But we paid a great price for the victory. Too great. Now please, allow
me to finish."

--------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------



"What
If?"

PART
SEVEN

Release
Date: 9.14.00

---------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------

"Alright," Izzy said, taking
charge, "Let's review the resources we have available. Digimon-wise, we've
got quite an arsenal. There's Angewomon, Megakabuterrimon, Zudomon, Lillymon,
and Garudamon, for starters; we already know they're not enough, by themselves.
And they're fully-digivolved, so we can't expect any more out of them.

"The spirit told us that Koromon and Tsunomon _can_ digivolve further.
WarGreymon and MetalGarurumon are fearsome warriors; I've seen them fight. But,
if we're to get their help, we need to unlock their attributes from the Agumon
and Gabumon programs. Apparently, this requires a large amount of energy, but
if it'll defeat VenomMyotismon, I'm willing to give it a shot.

"And lastly, there's those Mecha Digimon you found, Mr. Ishida. The spirit
showed us Gardromon and Mekanorimon while under her care; my analyzer
identifies the other one as Tankmon. They're all supposed to be tools of some
Digimon named Machinedramon, but apparently, these three were disconnected from
his collective. All the better for us.

"Aside from the Digimon, we've got a basement full of weaponry and
survival equipment, Jim's bag of medical supplies, Jim's scooter, and my
computer.

"I need ideas, people. What can we do, that'll stop VenomMyotismon?"

He stared at Kari, then Ishida, searching for a solution. Neither had one to
give.

"What we're forgetting," Kari noted, "Is that not only do we
have to stop VenomMyotismon, but we also have to keep the civilians safe.
Whatever we do, there needs to be a backup to clear them out, should we
fail."

"And I suppose you think I should take that role?" Ishida snapped.

"What? You think you'll be any more helpful anywhere else? You can use
those Mecha's to move them, if you have to."

"There's no way you're keeping me out of this fight!"

"That's funny; there's no way I'm letting you into it either!"

"ENOUGH!!!" Izzy exclaimed, his voice echoing even in this small
room. "I've about had it with you two; You've done nothing but argue since
we re-united. You're bickering won't get us anywhere; all it'll do is drive a
wedge between us. If we're going to stop VenomMyotismon, we'll have to work
together. You agreed to help plan this, but you're only causing trouble!"

Childishly, Ishida protested, "She started it!"

"Did not!"

"I DON'T CARE! Now shape up, or I'll plan this on my own."

Ishida muttered, "Look what you did! You got us in trouble!"

"Me?" Kari returned, hissing.

A bead of sweat collected Izzy's forehead, as his face adopted a classic
"what-did-I-ever-do-to-deserve-this?" expression, anime style.

"If you didn't argue with everything I said..."

"Well if you didn't complain about everything _I_ said..."

"What, like I was gonna sit this one out? You're crazier than I
thought."

"_I'm_ crazy? Ever looked in a mirror, lately?"

"_ENOUGH!!!_" Izzy bellowed. "I invited you here to help, but
you're just getting in the way. Kari, you're back on watch duty with the
others; Mr. Ishida, you're with Jim and my dad, checking out those Mechs. I'll
let you know what my final decision is. Now, both of you are dismissed."

---------------

"Hey, Kari!" Joe called, seeing the brown-haired girl exit the
building.

She ignored him.

"What's the plan?" he continued. "Where's Izzy?"

"Planning."

"Oh." he replied, "Why aren't you with him?"

"I argued too much with Mr. Ishida."

"Must've been _some_ argument..." Joe commented. Kari stared blankly,
not understanding.

"You haven't noticed?" Joe asked. "Izzy cares a lot about you.
He must've been _really_ mad to throw you out like that."

"Oh." she acknowledged, but definitely hiding something.

Joe figured it wasn't any of his business. "So where's Mr. Ishida?"

"Doing equipment checks."

"And you've been added to the watch?"

She nodded.

"Okay. We could always use the help."

She walked past him, walking over to a one-time building support. He sat,
leaning against it, hugging her knees, waiting.

---------------

"Okay, here's what I've got." Izzy informed, everyone once again
sitting around the table in the "War Room." "Like Kari
suggested, Mr. Ishida, Jim, and my Dad are the backup. They're gonna evacuate
the civilians if we fail."

Mr. Ishida grimaced, but didn't say anything. Kari smiled, in private victory.

"Everyone else, the way I see it, the best way to defeat VenomMyotismon is
with those Mega forms the spirit told us about. For that we need power. In
theory, by running a strong current through Tai and Matt's digivices, we should
be able to get the power boost we need. And the largest source of electricity
is gonna be our next target."

"The power plant." Jim declared, understanding. Izzy nodded.

"Our problem," he continued, "Is VenomMyotismon already
destroyed it. We'll have to go digging for underground cables, which will take
time. Time we won't have. Sora and T.K. will have to be there, since Tsunomon
and Koromon have bonded to them. Together with Biyomon, the five of them will
have to find the cable make the transformation happen. Meanwhile, Lillymon,
Zudomon, Megakabuterrimon, and Angewomon will hold off VenomMyotismon."

"Wouldn't our resources be better spent using MegaKabuterrimon, Zudomon,
and Garudamon in the evacuation?" Izumi put in, "I mean, they _did_
conduct the original. We know they can handle it."

"Much as I'd like to agree with you," Izzy replied, "They're
needed elsewhere."

"Why?" Ishida asked, adding to his colleague. "We've got
equipment. We've got weapons. We can handle the big guy."

"No." Izzy denied, "He's too strong."

"I'd love to see him stand up to Izumi's demolitions work. We could lure
him to a gas station, and BOOM!"

"That won't get us the power we need for the Mega's, though."

"Sure it will! Regular, Unleaded, or Special?"

"We need electricity."

"Not if the big guy's already gone."

"It's a good alternative." Sora interrupted, always the peacekeeper.
"If we don't make it, it's an idea you can pull off without us. For now,
though, Izzy's in charge, and while both ideas are good, I think Izzy has a
better idea of what he's talking about."

Ishida grumpily backed down.

"Now, the sooner we strike, the sooner it'll be over. Unless anyone has
any other suggestions, it's time to move."

They didn't.

---------------

Thanks to the munitions dump, the digidestined were outfitted with fatigues,
guns, and Sora and T.K. with flashlights and shovels. They left, taking a
forced march for the power plant, using cover wherever possible.

Once they were out of sight, Ishida grumbled, "They just _can't_ keep us
out of the fight. They'll need us."

"According to these specs I've pulled," Izumi agreed, "These
Mecha are powerful, maybe even more so than their own Digimon."

Jim protested, "But Izzy said to stay here."

"He didn't know how powerful these are." Izumi commented. "We
could probably take on VenomMyotismon, easy. If nothing else, we've got the
demolitions equipment too."

"Even so, they said to stay here." Jim added, finding no sympathy in
his audience. "And we don't even know how they work."

"Izzy said they were Digimon." Ishida said, as if it explained
everything. "The kids control their Digimon by giving them orders, why
shouldn't these work the same way?"

Jim gave up, finding his efforts lost.

"I'm gonna fly Mekanorimon." Ishida declared, though not explaining
which 'mon was which. "Why don't you take Gardromon, Izumi, and you take
Tankmon, Kido."

Izumi had no idea which was which, but assumed the tank was Tankmon, and that
if Ishida was flying, he'd take the one with wings. He nodded his agreement.

"Good." Ishida said, "Let's move."

---------------

"We're he-ere!" Gomamon announced cheerfully. Just like him; always
ready with a joke.

"Quiet!" his counterpart hissed. "Do you _want_ VenomMyotismon
to find us?"

"Well, it's a lot better than hearing you complain..." Gomamon
muttered.

"I'll never understand you digimon."

"Good. Being predictable gets so boring."

"I guess." Joe sighed, regretfully. "But I wouldn't be reliable
if I wasn't."

"Darn straight." Gomamon laughed.

"Okay," Izzy said, recalling everyone's attention. "This is where
we split up. Sora, T.K.; go straight into what's left of the building. Try to
find a stairwell leading to a basement. You can tap the cable from there."

"How do we know how to tap it?"

"Find the circuit breaker, and cut the power. Cut the cable, hook the ends
to the digivice input and output ports, then turn the power back on.
Understand?"

Sora nodded.

"Good." Izzy confirmed. "The rest of us, head West, but not so
far we can't be here to help if they need it. Digivolve there, so we don't call
attention here. Likewise, if we see VenomMyotismon, make a lot of noise to keep
his attention away from the power plant. Any time we can buy for them is
essential."

"But won't that mean putting ourselves at risk?" Mimi asked.

"Unfortunately, yes. But WarGreymon and MetalGarurumon _can_ stop
VenomMyotismon; we've seen it happen. And this is the only chance we've got to
acquire them, so we'd best make it count."

"Don't worry." Joe added to her, privately. "I won't let
anything happen to you. You can count on it."

Oh, Joe... Mimi thought, Always so reliable...

If Izzy heard the exchange, he pretended not to. "Today we're gonna fight
VenomMyotismon, and we're gonna hit him where it hurts. I've already told you
how important is; all that matters is that VenomMyotismon is a threat, and he
must be dealt with.--"

He found himself interrupted as the hulking form rose in the horizon, yawning
after a nap.

"And he probably knows we're coming."

---------------

"Y'know, this is almost fun!" Zudomon remarked, hammering into a pile
of rubble, sending concrete shrapnel flying everywhere.

"Yeah," Joe agreed, sickly, "In a creepy, twisted, sadistic sort
of way."

"Hey, Angewomon!" MegaKabuterrimon called, wanna give me a little
help with this Gas Station?"

"Sure!" she accepted, "I'll fly up and let loose a Celestial
Arrow, okay?"

She flew up, really enjoying herself. Now _this_ was fun; she got the chance to
annoy the guy who killed Wizardmon, and let loose pent-up energy. She started
to summon up one of her brilliant arrows, but something caught her eye.
"Kari!" she announced, "We have incoming."

"VenomMyotismon?" the girl asked, standing back like a foreman,
surveying the work of her demolitions crew.

"Nope. Something different."

"Let me take a look."

Angewomon came down, and picked up her Digidestined. They flew above, Kari
surveying the new interlopers.

"I can make out two, no, three shapes, all headed for the plant. One's
flying low, but the other two appear to be grounded." She spoke softly,
but not _too_ softly. After a moment, the data clicked. "Oh, no...
Angewomon. Get me over there. Now."

Izzy watched as Kari flew off. What was she doing? They needed her help. And
alone, she'd be vulnerable. He turned to call his Digimon to help.

Only to watch as MegaKabuterrimon was hammered into the very Gas Station he'd
targeted for demolition. In a huge explosion, he was sent flying,
de-digivolving into little Motimon. Izzy scooped up his friend, and ran after
Kari, as fast as his ten-year-old legs would carry him.

---------------

"Okay," Sora said, "I think that's the circuit breaker over
there."

"So what do we do now?" TK piped.

"Throw the switch, and look for a cable."

"Oh, okay."

Flashlights ready, the two threw the switch. And the wall caved in.

---------------

"We're not gonna make it, Kari." Angewomon announced.

"Just get us there; I'll worry about timing later."

Angewomon debated whether that made sense. "Whatever you say, Kari."

Then Kari remembered, as she watched the three forms plow through a wall.

"Angewomon. Get me down there. Now."

--------------

"I don't think that was s'posed to happen."

"Me neither, T.K." Sora agreed, coughing on dust.

"Why did the wall cave in like that?"

"I think something hit it." She answered, looking at the three new
forms.

T.K. saw what she saw. "Those're the bad guys the spirit showed us!"

"Biyomon, I think you'd better digivolve."

---------------

I hope I'm not too late... Kari thought, her mind rushing. This is
all my fault. If I'd let them come along in the first place, then the other's
would've known about them. Oh, I hope I'm not too late.

---------------

Here we go, Izzy. Mr. Ishida thought. We're gonna get you that power
source, and then we're gonna help take down VenomMyotismon. Then, maybe then,
we'll have made up for Matt's death.

"Huh?" Jim asked, snapping his attention back. "Garudamon?"

---------------

Kari, I don't know where you're going, but please, please come back to me.
Izzy. We need your help if we're gonna stop VenomMyotismon. We need everyone
we can to buy Sora and T.K. more time.

And I need you.

---------------

"Garudamon," Sora ordered, ruthless, this one obstacle between her
and avenging Tai's death, "They're the bad guys. They must be here to help
VenomMyotismon stop us. And we can't let that happen. You know what to
do."

---------------

There's not enough time. Nothing I can do. They're gonna die, and it's all
my fault. No way I can reach them. No time.

I'll make time.

They we're 50 meters out. 40, 30. Closing fast, but not fast enough. She saw
Garudamon readying an attack.

It's gonna take a miracle to pull this off, but if it works...

She squirmed from Angewomon's arms, and dove.

---------------

Finally, I'll have beaten you, you bastard. Sora gloated inwardly,
rejoicing in this final moment of triumph. Once you're gone, it won't matter
what that Bitch, Kari, has to say anymore. I won't need her anymore.

But will it bring Taichi back?

What does it matter? Either way, VenomMyotismon must be stopped, and revenge
just makes the victory sweeter. All I have to do now it tap that cable...

The Cable.

"Wing Blaze!"

"Garudamon! No!"

---------------

"What're they doing?" Jim asked. Internal comm frequencies
_definitely_ had their advantages.

"I'm not sure." Izumi remarked.

Ishida gasped, "They think we work for VenomMyotismon."

"No way."

"Why would they think that?"

"You got a better idea?" Ishida asked. "They _are_
attacking."

"So this is it? This is how we join the fight?" Jim asked, almost
ironically, "As _target practice?_"

"Looks like." Ishida agreed, gruffly. "I'm sorry I brought you
guys into this."

"We all agreed to it." Jim corrected.

"And we're all gonna follow it through." Izumi added. "After
all, it's gonna take a miracle to get out of this."

The attack flew through the air, towards the three men. They were enveloped by
a huge flash of light, and everyone seemed to blink.

Did it work?

They were all shocked by what they saw. T.K. fainted, and Sora broke into
tears.

But perhaps Matt's father summed it up best of all...

"Oh Shit!"

---------------

Woah! What a surge of power! Koromon could feel programming he'd never dreamed
existed. It's like he got all the energy he needed from that blast.

He looked down at the burnt body.

No. He thought, Not like this...

But there wasn't time to dwell on it; VenomMyotismon needed to be destroyed.

New and improved, WarGreymon knew he'd be the one to do it.

---------------

Izzy winced, his run ceased, his arms attempting to protect him from the flurry
of color before him. Enveloped by a huge fireball of burning brilliance.

And Kari's right in the middle of it.

"Kari!" he exclaimed, resuming the march, at a considerably faster
pace.

---------------

Izzy ran to where the others were watching the battle, finding them all
depressed. T.K. was on the ground, and Sora was sobbing. The adults sat
together, comforting each other.

Izzy ran up to him, "What's going on? Where's Kari?"

T.K. tried to answer, but found he couldn't. He led Izzy behind the
now-abandoned Mecha, and pointed at the body.

His eyes flared angrily with realization, "Tell me _everything_!"

---------------

"You...murderer!" Izzy screamed at Sora, ignoring the fact that T.K.
was equally involved, "I knew you were mad, but to go this far..."

Sora opened his mouth to reply, but Izzy wasn't finished, "You were with
them all along! You teamed up because he could help you get rid of her."

"I'm sorry," Sora choked, softly.

"Oh, you better believe it!" Izzy barked, lunging savagely at the
girl.

"Hey!" T.K. exclaimed, "It wasn't her fault!"

"No, he's right." she replied, "I killed Kari."

Izzy opened his mouth to add his own rude remark, but Sora wasn't finished.

"Just like she killed Tai.

"Now, I understand, Izzy. I understand that Tai's death wasn't her fault.
Just like I hope you can understand that her's wasn't mine.

"I've done something terrible. But all I can hope is that you can find it
in your heart to forgive me."

Her crest began to glow, sending a stream of light shooting up, high into the
sky, like a beacon.

Light. Like Kari's. The light that gave birth to WarGreymon and MetalGarurumon.
The light that jump started the crests.

The light that defeated Myotismon.

Finally, young Kari would live up to her prophecy. As a hero. As a savior.

As a Digidestined.

---------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------

"The rest resolved much the same as in
your world. The Crests all lit up, binding VenomMyotismon down. Through a joint
effort, WarGreymon and MetalGarurumon blasted VenomMyotismon into digi-dust.
Then, much like your Digidestined, we returned to the Digiworld, only to find
it in ruin. With our numbers down, we had our work cut out for us."

"So, that's it?" Daisuke protested.
"Hikari's dead?"

"Yes. But if not for her sacrifice, I'd
not be here today."

"So, you defeated the Dark Masters,
faced Apocalymon, and came home?" Hikari asked. "Like us?"

"Please excuse my error.
VenomMyotismon's downfall was much the same in our world as in yours. But
afterwards." He shuddered. "Afterwards, everything got _much_
worse."

"MUCH worse."

---------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------

To Be Continued in
"New Gennai Order - Prologue II of II: "If Only…"

----------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------

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