A Trip to the Library

The Material World: Hypnos Temporary HQ

"You are all aware of why I requested your return", Chief Yamaki was explaining to the Wild Bunch, "and why I insisted that there be no digital communications".

"I understand that the Tamers are back in the Digital World", Rob McCoy asked. "Do you believe that this Zhuqiaomon could be a threat?", he added as an after thought.

"So far, we had monitored minor incursions. These Wild Ones have all been Rookie level, but they were appearing in and around Shinjuku Chou Park, in East Shinjuku, around Yodobashi where Takato and several other Tamers attend. They didn't stay very long, so we have not been able to capture one, however, that was hardly necessary: they were looking for the Tamers. There have been no incursions lately, so I'm assuming Zhuqiaomon knows they're in the Digital World. I would have liked nothing better than to see these children return to normal children's lives with normal kid concerns. They've done enough - more than any one of us have a right to ask - it was not to be so. We ask a lot of them, and that is why I ask a lot of you. I think you know that, otherwise, you would not have come".

"Has there been any word?", Daisy asked.

"Takato's latest communique was urgent. The Tamers prevented a mass execution, and, to quote Ryo: 'really pissed off Zhuqiaomon'. I agree, and we need to get them to their partners without delay. If they were in danger before, that risk just went up several orders in magnitude".

"So where do we begin?", Curly asked.

"We need a contingency plan, and I will be requiring your expertise on this: Shaggai. Is it possible to narrow its focus? Can it be made selective enough to take out the Top Layer without destroying the whole rest of the Digital World?"

"You asked us to design a weapon of mass destruction for you, and that's what we did. Now you want, what, exactly?", Curly asked.

"Something that is more controllable, something more specific that can take out certain digimon, that can take out certain levels of the Digital World, if necessary, without destroying everything. I don't know how Zhuqiaomon will react if he is opposed. Impmon once told me that he believed Zhuqiaomon was perfectly capable of destroying the whole of Tokyo, and God knows what else, as the final act of his life. He claimed, and I agree, that Zhuqiaomon is quite insane. Millions of lives could be at stake here..."

"You're telling me the Tamers are expendable?!", Janyu couldn't believe Yamaki was even thinking such a thing. "Jen, Shuichon..."

"I hope it doesn't come to that, but I have to consider all possibilities..."

"There is one difference", Shibumi said, "the Sovereign all have more than one digicore. This is what makes them different from other digimon".

"How are we supposed to do all of this without Zhuqiaomon's knowing about it?", Dolphin asked.

"Hypnos' mainframe is going off-line. We will need something to 'fake it', however, so that it looks like Hypnos is up and running from the outside", Yamaki said.

"That's not a problem, but you won't have much capability…", Janyu said.

"We won't be needing any functionality, just the appearance", Yamaki replied.

"I understand you have a design for a new Ark", Johnny Beckenstein said, "and you want me to fly it. How do you intend to recreate it? Didn't you need a digivice and a Blue Card?"

"That's not a problem", Yamaki replied. "I know where we can get one, and Shibumi coded the original Blue Card Algorithm".

"Reproducing a Blue Card is not a problem", Shibumi replied.

"One last thing, Janyu, I need something translated into English", as he handed over hard copy of Takato's latest missive. "That part from Pteromon: get that off to Pittsburgh ASAP, express snail mail".

"If they are in that much trouble", Shibumi began to explain, "then shouldn't I go?"

"Remember what happened the last time you tried that?", he didn't wait for an answer. "Not only did you endanger your life, and there's no guarantee you could be reunited with your consciousness a second time, but you were so incoherent you barely made sense. What happens if you go and can't tell Takato and the others what they need to know? You could very well be sacrificing yourself for nothing and you can't deny that's a possibility. I won't have that on my conscience. You need to find a way that won't put you at risk, and we need you with your wits about you. Give me an alternative".

"Shaggai can reach the Physical Layer", Dolphin said, "so what if we sent a signal riding on Shaggai's data stream? If we could talk to the digignomes..."

"We couldn't understand their language", Shibumi objected. "I couldn't do it and neither can the digimon, and they've been trying for a lot longer than we have".

"That doesn't mean they can't understand ours", Yamaki replied. "Given what we do know of them, I would count on it. If there is any help to be found for the children, it will have to come through them".

"I suppose we could reprogram the controllers of the digiwarp generators to add modulation", Janyu offered his suggestion. "The only question is if the digignomes will recognize that it is a signal and not just another attack? We haven't done this before... and will Zhuqiaomon figure it out? Even if he doesn't, what about routine countermeasures?"

"We'll worry about that later", Yamaki said. "If the signal is meant for the digignomes, it can't help Zhuqiaomon locate the children. That's a chance we'll just have to take: the longer they're just wandering aimlessly out there, the more that risk grows. Janyu, get on it".

"I'll need to see the specs on the digiwarp generators".

"You'll have them".

Digital World

"New message from Yamaki", Takato announced.

We are working on something that should send help your way without endangering Shubumi's life and/or sanity. I don't want to reveal too many details just yet. If you are in a safe location, sit tight. If not, get yourselves some place you believe to be relatively safe. I don't know how long you'll need to wait, hopefully, not too long. Will contact you when we know more. You'll be pleased to know that Pteromon's message to her human family is on its way. Yamaki

Mr Yamaki:

We're as safe here as anywhere in the Digital World. Waiting to see what you come up with to assist us with our problem.

Takato

0xFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF

"Megumi, Reika: bring Shaggai on-line", Yamaki ordered.

"Sir?", Reika asked.

"You heard me. Give me a 7 minute countdown".

"Yes sir", she replied.

The usual Hypnos welcome screen was replaced by that of Shaggai. The screen changed: T -7:00 displayed.

Takato: We're going to try something different. We'll be using Shaggai to open a gateway to you, so that Shibumi can appeal to the digignomes to help you. Since we don't know exactly how these digignomes communicate, I need for all of you to concentrate on where you need to go. We'll be starting in about five minutes or so. Yamaki

He sent the message.

"What do you want me to do?", Shibumi asked.

"Talk to them, ask them for help. Hope they remember you from your last ill-advised visit to the Digital World".

He turned to the two best operators on his staff: "Bring the digital field generators up slowly. We're not trying to destroy, just punch through".

"I don't know if we can do that: the system wasn't designed for this".

"If anyone can, you can", Yamaki reassured. "At the first sign of countermeasures, stop immediately. We don't know how the digimon are going to take this, but given the past history..."

"Understood", Megumi replied. Now all they could do was wait.

"Shaggai on line: setting the digital field generators to 10%", Megumi advised.

The green beams projected from the roof of the temporary headquarters.

"First layer of the network", Reika announced.

"Countermeasures?", Yamaki asked.

"Nothing yet".

"Still can't break through", she announced. "Increasing output", Megumi advised. "Second later... third layer... Still stuck".

"Counter measures?", Yamaki asked again.

"Nothing so far", Reika replied. "Bringing up the output... Physical Layer!", Megumi announced.

"Now!", Yamaki said to Shibumi.

"This is not an attack. I repeat: this is not an attack. I am addressing the Ancient Ones of the Digital World. I hope you remember me, remember my voice. I am Goru Mizuno, better known by my nickname: Shibumi. Some friends of ours are in the Digital World, and require your urgent assistance. You might remember them: Jenyra Lee, the son of my colleague: Janyu Lee, and his partner Terriermon, and their mutual friend: Takato. You met them once when I was there in a non-physical form.

"He and his friends need to get to our old library. Sending the co-ordinates...", he sent the information in digital form, hoping they'd understand. "You saved my life once by reuniting my consciousness with my body. I hope you remember, and I hope you will..."

"Disturbance in the Ice Wall!", Reika called out. "This doesn't look like any sort of retaliation...", she said, confused.

"Yes!", Shibumi called out. "There's your answer: they kicked it in the ass to let us know!"

"Shut down immediately!", Yamaki ordered.

"Shaggai shutting down".

The Digital World

"If this works", Jen was explaining, "we will find ourselves deep under water. No matter how it seems, it isn't real. You won't drown unless you think you will. Takato and I were there, and you can see we didn't drown. It is all form without substance, so it's not like back home..."

That's when they saw the first lightening flashes across the Material World Sphere. The sky darkened, and a wind came up. Shaggai had been activated. It definitely wasn't as bad as they remembered that last time... The disturbance passed, the wind died down, and the sky cleared. The Material World Sphere returned to its normal appearance. That's when they saw them: orbs that glowed, even in the daylight, drifting all around them, seemingly meandering at random. The "orbs" resolved into what looked like white owls, but with a thin plume or crest that curled, longer than their bodies: Ancient Ones, Digignomes. They flew in circles, making those high pitched chittering sounds, and their vision went all watery, they felt a brief disorientation, like severe vertigo. As the feeling passed, they saw the library.

The Ancient Ones broke off, flying in formation. The library looked like something straight out of 1900: stone steps leading to a wide stone front porch from a nonexistent sidewalk. Red brick construction, rounded, stained and leaded glass windows, slate roof. It obviously had two stories, and a central spire rising above the double doors. Ikkakumon, being in his element, swam towards the front doors. He pushed the polished oak doors which swung inwards. Defying all the laws of hydrodynamics, the water didn't immediately flood in. Ikakkumon found himself in mid air, without support. He flopped to the floor.

"Dammit!", they heard him call out.

As the others stepped through the improbable wall of water, clothes and hair completely dry, "Why didn't you warn me about that?", he asked.

"Why were you in such a hurry?", Shuichon admonished.

The inside looked just as Takato and Jen remembered it. Row upon row of books, the interior illuminated by candle light, the scent the vague mustiness of old books. Healthy looking plants and flowers in planters, though there was no evidence anyone had visited since they were here for their initial visit.

"I thought we were supposed to meet our partners? Doesn't look like anyone's here. Did they leave? Are we too late?", Kenta asked.

"The lecture hall", Jen announced, "up those stairs", as he led the way.

The sliding door to the hall was behind a bookcase. The interior of the hall a stark contrast: florescent lighting, and more or less modern. A long green chalk board along the far wall, behind the podium. "

TA-KA-TO!", Guilmon called out as he ran up the steps. He gave his partner a flying tackle, just as he'd done before. "You made it! I've been waiting for you! You don't know how much I missed you!"

"Easy there, big fella", Takato said, as Guilmon finally allowed him to get up.

"Your eyes are leaking again", Guilmon observed.

"Yeah, it's because I'm so happy to see you. I was afraid I'd never get to keep our promise... I brought you something", he said, as he dug into his back pack. He pulled out a box.

"Is that what I think it is?", Guilmon asked.

"I wish it could be fresher, but, yeah, Guilmon Bread, just like Dad promised to make them for you".

Guilmon dug in and ate one in one bite: "They're wonderful. Tell your Dad for me that I approve".

"You can tell him yourself..."

"Took your damn time", Cyberdramon snarled at Ryo. "Where's Devidramon?"

"He... died", Impmon said. "I'm sorry..."

"Did he die well?", Cyberdramon asked.

"He died fighting Zhuqiaomon's demons when we were attacked. We made a memorial, and had a kind of service in his memory". Cyberdramon snarled his approval.

"I found my ultimate opponent", Cyberdramon told Ryo.

"I think we all did", Ryo agreed.

"Good to see you again, Kazu", Andromon said. "I made it back, but I haven't changed".

"I knew you could do it... You haven't been trying to be a hero to the unappreciative again?"

"I learned that lesson. This time I have something to be heroic about and for those who will be grateful"

"Good to see you again", Marineangemon announced.

As Kenta hugged the diminutive Mega: "I missed you too. So you learned Japanese?".

"The first time, it was all so sudden. What else am I to do while stuck here?"

"I'd like to introduce you to some new friends", Takato announced. "Here's Pteromon".

"Pleased to meet all of you. I've heard so much about you".

"I know who you are", Cyberdramon snarled. "We saw the broadcast", he pointed to the LCD screen overhead. "I knew right away..."

"Don't mind him", Ryo said, "he's like that with everyone".

"...who saved your life", he finished as if Ryo hadn't interrupted him. "I see that all the guardians we sent are here. I thought that, once you helped reunite everyone with their partners..."

"That was the agreement", Lilamon explained, "we decided to see this through to the end. We can't abandon those whom we protect that easily".

"I'm pleased that you did. However, I must warn you: we're still in grave danger here, and it won't be an easy fight. I'm asking you to reconsider..."

"We won't leave a job half done", Ankylomon replied.

"We agreed", Kyukimon and Ikkakumon insisted.

"They risked so much to save me", Pteromon added. "It's the least I could do".

"Nothing less would I expect from true and faithful digimon", Andromon announced.

"So long as you know what you're getting into", Guilmon told them. "We could use all the help we can get".