Old Ones Return (III)

Kurata<They have tracking missiles, grenades, precision rifles with ranges best measured in acres, tanks, napalm, automatic weaponry capable of firing hundreds of armor-piercing rounds per minute, toxic gasses that can paralyze your respiratory systems, & Digimon infused with a substance that can delete any digital matter, converted into remote control bioweapons. Even if your Digimon can adequately defend against that kind of force, how do you propose we prevent any of you from being killed in the crossfire?>

Biyomon:<I dislike those odds.>

Cameron:<I guess.>

Lunamon:<But we have to eventually fight them. Can't you give us more firepower?>

Azuma: "So we volunteered under the assumption we'd be doing something in this area only to leave it as is?"

Kurata<We're looking for information about this war. If we can't approach the human army....>

A<So we're looking for the Digimon army? The guys who sent Angemon to this world? I dunno, they didn't seem much friendlier.>

Patamon: "What?"

Azuma: "Different Angemon, I reckon."

Lunamon:<I agree! This wasn't what we signed up for.>

*Kurata stops leaning back, opens his desk, & pulls out some papers.*

Kurata<If you feel so strongly about it, the first thing I will need you to do is get your parents to sign these forms, certifying that you waive all responsibility for death or serious injury from Hypnos and the Japanese Government as a whole.>

*He taps the papers on his desk to make sure that they're all in-line, then leans forward & extends his arm, holding them out over his desk as though he expects someone to take them.*

*Cameron takes two copies of the papers*

Cameron:<I'm 18. Do I still have to get these signed?>

Lunamon:<We have to stop these people, here and now!>

Azuma and Hitomi take a form. Taiyo is the only one who doesn't, resolving to hide behind Euryale.

Kurata<If you're 18, you can sign them yourself.>

A<You're all being stupid. Even Euryale would say it's too much of a risk after hearing that long list of weapons. And I don't know what half of them even do.>

*Euryale kind of shakes her head & murmurs at the mention of her name.*

Azuma: "Mind I borrow a pen?"

Patamon: "Dummy, what are you doing?"

Azuma: "The right thing. What are you doing? Making up for Salamon's exceptionally long inability to speak?"

Cameron:<We'll have to go get Dad to sign these for Kylie.>

*Cameron waits for a pen to come around*

*Euryale finally yawns & opens her eyes.*

"Wha 'appened?"

Kurata<Your friends want to rush into the dark area & try to take out the whole army in one attack.>

"What? No, we're not doing that. It's too many to fight at once, & we don't know enough about what they can do."

A<I told you so.>

*Lunamon crosses her arms*

<Then why did we even come in today?>

Azuma: "It was acceptable when you wanted to do it with less information and less of a chance of survival."

Patamon: "It was a bad idea then to."

Azuma: "Finally have an opportunity to go on the offensive and you want to forgo it?"

Patamon: "If it means there's a good chance you'll die, yes."

E"It was the exact same odds, and I revoked my support after I realized just how bad they were. If that's what you need, fine. Those who are physically 18 but mentally about 12 can sign your stupid forms. Agumon & I will lead you into a battle plan that you'll hopefully at least be able to walk away from. The rest of us can pursue the original mission."

Patamon: "Why not put more than three minutes of thought into this? She can't even get the form signed right away, so why not ponder it until Monday?"

Azuma: "And if I made my resolve now?"

Patamon: "Then I'm staying home."

Kylie:<There has to be more people than just us to send. You know where the mercenaries are, this is the time to strike. Why don't other teams come along? We can lend them the blue card, and then who knows how many ultimates we'll have.>

Kurata<There aren't any other teams left. They've all been killed. We're trying to get a request approved to actively search for Tamers in other countries, but that's difficult. And the military won't send support forces to another world with so little to go on.>

*Agumon shoots a fireball onto the roof, causing harmless-but-startling sparks to rain down. Euryale does not move, keeping her arms firmly crossed & a slight glare. Her voice is calm & monotonous, barely above a whisper. Kurata raises an eyebrow.*

E"I'm glad I've got your attention. As this whole attack rides on my Blue Card, we're going to do what I say. I want 2 teams. Anyone who is 18 or older, stand to my left. Anyone younger, to my right. Digimon go with their Tamers, no exceptions. No more arguing. Anyone who continues to bicker will have to face Agumon & myself. Anyone who doesn't want to be a part of the plan, leave & never come back. And take your partner with you. You'll need discipline if you ever want to beat these guys. Today we'll find out who has that...& who's just playing Digimon on taxpayer money."

Kurata<...Well, now, I think that's a little-->

E"Professor Kurata...with all due respect, it doesn't matter what you think. This is a mission for Tamers. When we find something that needs looked up on a computer, then you can weigh in."

And so everyone stands wherever, Taiyo reluctant to stop hiding behind Euryale.

*Kylie grabs Lunamon, and stands to Euryale's right. Cameron goes to her left with Biyomon*

*Euryale lets out kind of a wet sigh, keeping her arms crossed, but turning to walk out of the room.*

"Those to my left, sign the forms. Everyone, follow me."

Kurata<...Speaking of looking things up on my computer, the woman you encountered recently matches Helen Barbatos, an escaped death row inmate noted for taking pleasure in torturing her victims. There were rumors that she was involved with international terrorism, which I suppose we have just confirmed.>

*As Kurata speaks, he starts to get up, gathering up paperwork scattered across his desk.*

*Cameron sighs the paperwork then follows. Kylie and Lunamon just follow*

The two sign the forms. Taiyo stops Azuma.

Taiyo: "Azuma?"

Azuma: "Yeah?"

Taiyo: "Promise me you'll protect Hitomi."

Hearing her name, Hitomi looks over at the two who briefly look at her before she resumes what she's doing.

Azuma: "Count on it."

Azuma looks a little bugged out by Taiyo holding her pinky up, but he follows along and with that she leaves, followed by Renamon.

Didn't need to make a promise like that.

*The Digital Gate deposits them in a forest. Once they exit, it shrinks & disappears with a small crackle of white lightning, which illuminates the clearing around them. Once it's gone, they can only see by the light of the moon filtering in through the trees. Euryale calls up her map, which displays a nearby data stream.*

E"Alright, with any luck, here's what's going to happen: We're going to walk to the data stream. Along the way, we will all use the Blue Card. Once at the data stream, our D-Powers should tell us what's on the other side, & therefore if it's safe to enter. Hopefully, our entrance won't have been noticed, & we can lure them to the stream, where the Team 1 will be waiting with their Ultimate Digimon, so that we can pick off the forces that come through. Meanwhile, the Team 2 will explore the newly discovered area. Any questions?"

*As she speaks, she digs into her pocket & draws out the Blue Card.*