Extra Chapter
Let's reach 400 Power Stones for an extra chapter
***
"What do we do, Ethan?" Agumon whispers, his voice low. "Should we attack?"
"Not yet," I whisper back, squeezing Cutemon a little tighter. "Hold your ground, but don't attack unless they make the first move."
I'm not thrilled about this situation. Surrounded by SHIELD agents, with Cutemon in my arms and my Digimon ready to rumble. This is not how I wanted my evening to go. I just wanted to have a fun time with Cutemon.
Coulson takes another step closer, his eyes still fixed on me. He seems like he's trying to keep things from escalating. I guess even SHIELD doesn't want to start a fight if they can avoid it.
"My name is Phil Coulson," he repeats, his tone still calm and professional. "And you are?"
Okay, time to think fast. I can't exactly give him my real name. "Ethan Kepler" is already pushing it, but giving my old name is out of the question. Plus, I'm not sure what kind of information SHIELD has on me already. Do they know about my real identity, or just the one I have now?
"You can call me Cipher," I say, my voice steady. It's not the best alias, but it'll do for now.
Coulson raises an eyebrow, but doesn't press the issue. "Cipher," he repeats, testing the name. "Alright, Cipher. Would you mind if we had a little chat? Somewhere more private?"
I glance around at the agents, their guns still trained on me. "And if I say no?"
"Then we'll have a problem," Coulson says, his voice still even, but with a definite edge. "But I'd really prefer to do this the easy way. We just want to understand what's going on here. No need for anyone to get hurt." He glances at Agumon and Gabumon. "Especially your… friends."
Cutemon is practically clinging to me now, its little body trembling. The poor thing is terrified.
"Look, Agent Coulson," I say, trying to keep my voice reasonable. "My friend here is pretty freaked out by all the guns pointed at us. We'd really just like to leave."
Coulson shakes his head, his expression unwavering. "I can't do that, Cipher. These… creatures," he gestures to Agumon, Gabumon, and Cutemon, "are unknown. As far as I'm concerned, they're a potential threat. My organization, SHIELD, handles these kinds of matters. It's our job to investigate and ensure the safety of the public."
"These 'creatures,' as you call them, are Digimon," I explain. "And while it's true that some Digimon can be dangerous, mine aren't. Neither is Cutemon. They're not a threat to anyone."
Agumon and Gabumon puff out their chests slightly, trying to look intimidating despite the circumstances. Cutemon peeks out from behind my arm, its eyes wide and scared.
"They're just as surprised to be here as I am. We didn't ask for any of this." I take a step forward, hoping to defuse the tension. "We're not looking for trouble. We just want to be left alone."
Coulson's gaze remains fixed. He's not buying it. I guess that's his job. "I appreciate your cooperation, Cipher, but I can't just take your word for it. We need to bring you and your Digimon in for questioning."
I really thought we could come to some kind of understanding. I guess SHIELD only understands force. Too bad for them.
"Agumon, Gabumon," I say, my voice hard. "Now!"
Agumon and Gabumon don't hesitate. They're ready for a fight. Agumon rears back and unleashes his signature move.
"Pepper Breath!"
Gabumon follows suit, blue flames erupting from his mouth.
"Blue Blaster!"
The combined blasts of fire and ice slam into the pavement in front of the SHIELD agents, sending up chunks of asphalt and a cloud of smoke. It's not meant to hurt them, just to create a diversion. As the agents stumble back, caught off guard, I seize the opportunity.
I yank out my Digivice, my fingers flying across the screen. I open the Digi-Memory app and select the Mushroomon Digi-Memory. This should even the playing field a little bit.
"Digi-Memory! Come, Mushroomon!"
A shimmering ring of data materializes in front of me, swirling and coalescing with blinding speed. The energy crackles around me as the data takes form, solidifying into a bizarre and somewhat comical figure.
Before us stands Mushroomon, a stout Digimon with a body like a gnarled tree stump. His stubby arms flail about as he takes in his surroundings. His head is a massive mushroom cap, ridged and spotted with an unsettling pattern of red and brown. His eyes are beady and gleam with a mischievous intelligence, and a wide, toothy grin stretches across his face, promising nothing but trouble. A faint odor of damp earth and something vaguely toxic wafts from him, mingling with the smell of burnt asphalt from Agumon and Gabumon's attacks.
[Mushroomon]
[Level: Rookie]
[Type: Vegetation]
[Attribute: Virus]
[Special Move: Fungus Crusher]
[A small Vegetation Digimon in the shape of a poisonous mushroom. Small but potent poisonous mushroom bombs growing from Mushroomon's body cause all kinds of afflictions. Anyone hit by one of these bombs could start laughing uncontrollably, have their body go numb, lose their memories, and more. Mushroomon is extremely ill-tempered and loves to pick on the weak, but also has a shy side, always hiding half of its face. Its special move Fungus Crusher scatters a spread of mini-mushroom bombs.]
"Alright, Mushroomon, time to earn your keep!" I shout, pointing towards the SHIELD agents. "Use Fungus Crusher! Hit them hard!"
Mushroomon doesn't need to be told twice. He giggles, a high-pitched, unsettling sound, and swings his arms, scattering a cloud of spores. The spores spread quickly, engulfing the agents in a hazy green mist. They cough and sputter, their faces contorting in confusion as the effects kick in. One by one, they drop to the ground, completely numb. Even Coulson seems to be struggling, his movements growing sluggish.
"Now's our chance!" I yell, grabbing Cutemon and taking off. Agumon and Gabumon follow close behind, their eyes darting around for any sign of pursuit. I feel bad for the agents, but they were given the chance to stand down.
We sprint down the side street, dodging dumpsters and weaving through parked cars. A few of the SHIELD agents who were farther away from the initial blast are still on their feet, chasing after us. They're gaining ground fast. I can hear their heavy footsteps pounding on the pavement behind us.
"We need to find somewhere to use Connect Jump," I pant, my lungs burning.
"There!" Gabumon shouts, pointing to a closed electronics store. The store's sign flickers, but the lights are on inside. Perfect.
I kick in the door, sending shards of glass flying. Inside, rows of TVs are stacked high, their screens displaying a cacophony of colors and images. I run to the nearest TV, ignoring the blaring alarms.
"Everyone, get ready!" I shout, holding up my Digivice. "Connect Jump!"
I tap the screen, focusing all my energy on the digital world. Agumon, Gabumon, Mushroomon, and I are enveloped in a familiar blue glow. A ripple distorts the air around us.
We dive into the screen just as the SHIELD agents burst through the door, guns raised. They stare in disbelief at the static-filled TV, their faces etched with frustration. They have no clue where we went.
We are gone.
Inside Cyberspace, the familiar rush of digital energy fades, and I finally release a breath I didn't realize I was holding. I look down at Cutemon, still nestled safely in my arms.
"Hey, are you okay?" I ask, my voice full of concern.
"I'm okay, chu~!" Cutemon replies, its voice shaky but cheerful. "Thank you for saving me, Ethan!"
A wave of relief washes over me, and I smile. "Of course. We couldn't just leave you to those SHIELD guys."
"Let's go home," I say, looking at my partners. "I'm beat."
"Agreed," Agumon says, nodding.
"Me too," Gabumon adds.
We navigate the digital streams, the glowing data flowing around us like a neon river. Time to head home.
***
Donate Power Stones to support this novel
Advance chapters in patreon.com/Najicablitz