One More Digital Dive

Alone in Marcus' room, Keenan thought back about the previous battle and what Saberleomon had told him as Falcomon looked on worriedly.

In DATS headquarters…

"I don't get it." Marcus noted, as the team re-watched the video from the previous battle. "Why did that disappear?"

"And who's that creature who destroyed Saberleomon?" Thomas questioned.

"Well, did it leave behind a Digimon signature or something?" Marcus asked the blond.

"I went through the data base again but I couldn't find anything that matched its description." Thomas replied.

"I can't believe there's an unknown Digimon out there." Yoshi remarked.

"We'll find out what it is some day." Charlie reassured the rest of the group.

"Uh oh." Agumon muttered as Sampson entered the command center with a platoon of troops.

"Really good work everyone." Kurata greeted the group. "Keep it up."

"You again?" Thomas frowned.

"Looks like you've got the Digital Dive fixed." Kurata remarked.

"What? No one told me!" Marcus retorted.

"Yeah, how come nobody told us?" Agumon agreed.

"You're right, I should have told you so that you can break it again after we just fixed it." Yoshi remarked sarcastically.

"Who, me?" Marcus retorted.

"All right enough!" Sampson halted the argument. "We will be transporting Kurata and these com-men into the Digital World today."

At the teens' surprised gasps, he added, "These orders came straight from the Director."

Flashback

"Tell me Commander, do you think it's possible for DATS to get any more press?" Hashima spat, showing Sampson the headlines. "You're supposed to cover things up, not wind up in the front page!"

"I'm very sorry, sir." Sampson apologized.

"We can no longer allow the Digimon to enter the Human World." Hashima told him. "DATS will immediately send a team into the Digital World to take care of the source of all our problems, Merukimon."

"Yes, but sir…" Sampson trailed off.

"What?" Hashima demanded.

"Merukimon is a Mega level Digimon, which means he has unbelievable powers. In order to have any chance of defeating him, we'll need a very well-planned expedition." Sampson reminded Hashima.

"Are you kidding? We're already at war!' Hashima fumed. "There's no time for planning! Now is the time for action!"

"Yes sir." Sampson replied.

"Perhaps there is another way." Kurata pointed out. "We could negotiate a new treaty and end this war peacefully. Well?"

"Kurata" Sampson blinked. "What are you doing here?"

"We're dealing with Digimon here, not people." Hashima told the scientist. "They are irrational. We're not going to be able to negotiate."

"Oh come on." Kurata chided. "You shouldn't be so prejudiced, Director. Merukimon is extremely intelligent, which is why I believe we can persuade him to find a peaceful resolution."

"Impossible!" Hashima objected.

"Look at it this way." Kurata reasoned. "No one will get hurt if we could avoid at all conflict and you, Director Hashima, will get credit for negotiating peace instead of being blamed for starting a war. It's in everyone's best interest, don't you agree?"

"Perhaps." Hashima replied. "I suppose it won't hurt to try. You will lead the negotiations with Merukimon."

"Ah?" Kurata feigned surprise.

"Well, it certainly wasn't my intention to get so involved in all this. I think the Director made a terrible decision." Kurata remarked. "But, orders are orders. From this moment on, I will be your commander for this mission. You will be joining my troops in this Digital Dive and be our backup in case of trouble."

"Commander!" Thomas looked at Sampson.

"These are the orders of Director Hashima." Sampson told him.

"This is some kind of a joke?" Marcus demanded in Kurata's face. "Why should I take orders from some dude who's not even a member of DATS?"

"Yeah, he's right." Agumon agreed. "You've never even fought a Digimon, have you?"

"Hey, why are you blaming me for?" Kurata shrugged, after he sneezed. "I'm not the one who started this fiasco. The Digimon on the other side are the ones who decide to make us our enemies. We don't know what they're planning or when they might attack next."

"That's exactly why you should just let us take care of it." Marcus shoved him aside and headed to the Digital Dive. "It's not like Merukimon's going to invite you over for tea to have a nice chat or something. There's only one way to get through to him, and that's my 'Fists of Fury'."

"I don't know, Marcus." Yoshi remarked. "I mean it couldn't hurt to try and talk to the guy."

"It seems like you want to go to the Digital World but you don't want to follow Kurata's orders." Lalamon pointed out.

"Hang on a minute." Thomas voiced. "We're not ready yet. Yusei and I are going to have to re-calibrate the Digital Dive to accumulate this many people."

"Well then." Kurata replied. "I guess there's nothing we do but wait, right?"

"Right. Okay." He added, as he walked off. "The mission will get underway tomorrow morning. See you then."