Memory is the First Thing to Go

"Transport complete." Thomas noted after the team returned.

"We got to get a bigger Digital Dive." Marcus complained as the group was squashed on the ground.

"Keenan?" he looked at the sobbing child after everybody de-tangled themselves. "You're still welcome at my house if you want. Let's go."

Keenan nodded and got up.

"Where is everyone?" Ash asked as he inspected the room.

"Something's not right here." Charlie narrowed his eyes. "Let's go."

Ash and Charlie left to look for Commander Sampson and the others.

Just then, the doors slid open and Hashima's men entered the room.

"What's going on around here?" Marcus demanded as Hashima's men surrounded the group.

"I received an anonymous tip the Data Squad turned traitor by joining forces with the Digimon." Hashima accused.

"Marcus Damon, Yoshi Fujieda, Mizuno Ami and Thomas Norstein. As of today, you're dismissed and your commissions revoked." Hashima told them.

"We're what?" Marcus exclaimed.

"Please wait!" Thomas protested. "We must be allowed to explain everything to Commander Sampson."

"Unfortunately, Commander Sampson and Cyclops have already been arrested for high treason." Hashima told them.

'No.' Yoshi thought, dismayed. She was on the verge of crying after hearing that her boyfriend had been arrested along with Commander Sampson.

"My, my." Kurata mocked outside the door. "What a mess you've all created. If only you had obeyed my commands, then this whole ugly incident could have been avoided."

"You." Greg growled after seeing the scientist.

"Kurata!" Marcus hissed.

"Seize them!" Hashima ordered.

"Keenan!" Falcomon gasped when his partner was tossed to the ground, only to be subdued by Hashima's guards.

"Hey! In case you didn't know, we're the good guys!" Marcus protested as he struggled against his captors.

"Let go!" Thomas demanded, before gasping when one of the guards produced a memory-eraser. "The memory-eraser."

"Thomas!" Gaomon gasped when his partner was flashed and fainted, followed by Yoshi.

"Yoshi!" Lalamon cried out.

"Marcus!" Agumon called.

"I'm warning you!" Marcus shouted. "You'd better let go of me!"

"Leave him alone!" Agumon cried as Marcus as flashed.

As the guard approached Ami to flash her, the girl sprung into action. Grabbing the guard behind her, she effortlessly tossed him over her shoulder. Another guard came at her, fist drawn and Ami caught the fist and crushed every bone in the man's hand. She then simultaneously creamed another man's face with a kick and smashed another man's arm, but not before finally getting subdued by Hashima's other guards and was flashed.

The next morning…

Marcus awoke on a bench by the beach.

"What am I doing here?" he inquired. "I can't remember."

Back in DATS…

The Digimon were locked up in a room, their partners' Digivices confiscated on the table outside the room as a scientist kept watch.

"Just listen here!" Agumon hollered as he and Falcomon pounded on the transparent window.

"I demand to see Keenan!" Falcomon shouted, pounding the window.

"So, it's just as I suspected. "Kudamon remarked after Gaomon, Lalamon and Tailmon informed him. "Kurata was behind this whole thing."

"You knew all along?" Gaomon asked.

"Sampson has had his suspicions." Kudamon replied. "The leaps in technological advancements he made with his weapons, the mysterious appearance that man-made Digimon that defeated Saberleomon, even the deal he made with Hashima to go back to the Digital World. All of it just did not add up."

"What's wrong with mankind?" Falcomon retorted as he approached the small group. "First they tell us they want to protect the Digimon, then they hurt us!"

"Kurata is the bad guy!" Agumon shouted. "Marcus and the others are…"

His protest was cut short when Gaomon stuffed a hand into his mouth.

"Stop talking for a moment and let us think." The blue wolf told the orange dinosaur.

"Falcomon." Kudamon told the bird. "The history is a complicated one. The Human World and the Digital World were separate entities and never associated with one another. But when the dimensional barrier between them weakened, Digimon begun appearing in the Human World. The Digimon Data Squad, or DATS for short, was formed to keep humans and Digimon from having any unnecessary contact with each other. Together, Digimon and their human partners fought hard for the peace of both worlds. We were proud of what our organization accomplished, more so when we found the 'Light of Hope'. Unfortunately, all that hard work seems meaningless, in the wake of these recent and tragic events."

"Sad." Gaomon noted. "Now that DATS has been dissolved, we'll never see our human partners again, their memories are lost and they no longer remembering anything about us."

"Don't give up hope." Tailmon tried to raise the downcast group's spirits.

"Tailmon?" Kudamon blinked at the white cat.

"I'm sure Lady Ami will come." Tailmon assured them.

"But isn't her memory wiped as well?" Gaomon asked.

"Master Demon, Mistress Angel, Master Duke, Master Duncan, Master Dare and Lady Ami all have Master Duke's microprobe implants under their skins to counteract the memory wipe." Tailmon explained.

In school…

Marcus was listening to his teacher's lecture.

As he looked out of the window, his eyes widened when images of DATS previous battles rushed into his mind.

"My head…" He winced in pain.

In town…

"Yoshi!" Her friend called out.

"Coming!" Yoshi replied.

"Thank you." She turned to the vendor and took her drink. As she watched the news, she dropped her cup in shock, clutching her head in pain trying to remember.

"Ugh."

In Thomas' study room…

The blond was also experiencing the same headache as he heard the news on his computer.

"Here is your afternoon tea, Master Thomas." His butler placed his cup on the table. "Is something wrong?"

"No, I'm fine." Thomas replied. "Why did you bring two cups?"

"I'm not sure." His butler replied. "Strange, my apologies. I'll take one back right away."

In Angel's Bath House...

Having retained her memory due to Duke's implant, Ami entered a side room where she had built a small shrine to store SaberLeomon's and Merukimon's Soul Stones.

"My Lady?" SaberLeomon's spirit questioned as it emerged from his stone, followed by Merukimon's.

"What am I supposed to do? Everyone..." She sobbed. "They've forgotten."

"Have faith, My Lady." Merukimon soothed. "Hope is something you mustn't give up on. Remember, My Lady, never let that light grow dim."

Ami nodded. Turning into Lilith, she began to sing softly as the two Digimon's spirits returned to their respective stones.

Soushite bouyaha nemurini tsuita

Ikizuku haino nakano honoo

Hitotsu, futatsu to ukabu fukurami itoshii yokogao

Daichi ni taruru ikusen no yume, yume

Gin no hitomi no yuragu yoru ni

Umare ochita kagayaku omae

Ikukou no toshitsuki ga

Ikutsu inori wo tsuchi e kaesshitemo

Watashi wa inori tsuzukeru

Douka konoko ni ai wo

Tsunaida te ni kisu wo

Soushite bouyaha nemurini tsuita

Ikizuku haino nakano honoo

Hitotsu, futatsu to ukabu fukurami itoshii yokogao

Daichi ni taruru ikusen no yume, yume

Gin no hitomi no yuragu yoru ni

Umare ochita kagayaku omae

Ikukou no toshitsuki ga

Ikutsu inori wo tsuchi e kaesshitemo

Watashi wa inori tsuzukeru

Douka konoko ni ai wo

Tsunaida te ni kisu wo

Back in DATS…

"I have enough of this moping around!" Agumon suddenly voiced. "So DATS is gone. The Boss needs me for a lot more than just fighting. He needs me for me. I'm his best friend and that's not going to change just because he doesn't fight bad guys anymore. No matter how many times I eat the last helping, no matter how many insults he threw at me, we knew we'll always be stronger together than apart."

"I know what you mean, Agumon." Lalamon agreed. "Yoshi and I have a really strong bond that ties us together too. No matter how tough it got, we always supported each other and overcame the odds."

"Thomas and I also have an unbreakable bond that no one can remove." Gaomon added.

"It's the same for me and Keenan." Falcomon noted.

The two Pawnchessmons nodded in agreement.

Agumon smiled at the lifted spirits of the group.

"So," he added. "What do you guys say? You want to get out of here?"

"Yes, even though their memories were erased, maybe they'll be able to remember us when our eyes meet." Gaomon agreed.

"Yeah!" Lalamon whooped.

"Wait." Kudamon interjected. "As soon as we decided to escape, we will be all considered traitors. Do you still want to go?"

As the group thought, a ripple of rainbow-colored light entered the room as Lilith's song resonated.

"Lilith-sama." Kudamon blinked, hearing the 'Light of Hope's' voice.

"Lady Lilith." Tailmon gasped. "She is right, we mustn't give up hope."

"I'm still going." Agumon replied. "The most important thing for me has always been protecting Marcus. I won't let him down."

"That's the best thing I've ever heard you say, Agumon." Lalamon noted.

"That's better than the usual drill that comes out of your mouth." Gaomon agreed.

"Now, let's not get personal." Agumon protested as the rest laughed.

"Does everyone agree then?" Kudamon asked and everybody nodded.

"Very good." He commented. "We'll show them all that these Digimon aren't about to become Kurata's puppets."

"Alright! Let's go!" Agumon affirmed.

"Aren't we forgetting that there's no way out of here?" Lalamon reminded them.

"Leave it to me." Agumon told her.

"Uh oh." Lalamon muttered, realizing what Agumon was about to do.

"Agumon, what are you doing?" Gaomon asked as the orange dinosaur prepared to fire his 'Spit Fire Blast' at the window and the group panicked when the flame got out of control.

"Fire's broken out in the Digimon containment center!" one of Kurata men reported.

"What? A fire?" Kurata frowned.

"Get the extinguishers ready!" Kurata's men rushed to put out the fire.

"Sing a Song." Lalamon sang her lullaby once the door was opened.

Choking, the plant Digimon floated out.

"Next time you act, use your head." Gaomon scolded as he ran out.

"I did use my head." Agumon remarked. "Where did you think the fire came from?"

"Stop your quarreling. Let's go!" Kudamon rebuked as he ran out.

"Are they always like this?" Falcomon asked as he followed the two Pawnchessmons.

"Unfortunately, yes." Tailmon replied as she brought up the rear.

"Agumon, Lalamon, Tailmon, Renamon, Guilmon and Gaomon, find your partners. The rest of you, follow me."

"The Digimon have escaped." One of Kurata's men told his comrade outside Keenan's cell. "Quick, seal the exit!"

"Falcomon?" Keenan blinked as he peered out of the slit window, the said bird poking his head through the window.

"Falcomon!" He beamed upon seeing his partner.

"Falcomon!" He hugged the bird after he broke out of his cell.

"Keenan!" Falcomon smiled, hugging back. "Oh thank goodness!"

"Pawnchessmon!" Miki beamed after being rescued.

"Where's Sampson?" Kudamon asked.

"The National Security Council took him away." Miki replied.

"I see." Kudamon noted. "Megumi, Miki, take Keenan and the others and get out of here. I will look for Sampson."

"Right!" The two women nodded as Kudamon took off.

"Keenan, come on. We've got to escape." Megumi told the child.

"No!" Keenan objected. "Me avenge Merukimon. Get Kurata. Let's go Falcomon."

The bird nodded and the two took off.

"Keenan!" Miki gasped.

"That kid's too stubborn for his own good." Megumi added and took off after Keenan with Miki following her.

Ami sighed and looked at Tailmon, "Well there throws Duncan-nii-san's well though-out plan out the window."

In town...

"This is a bad idea, Agumon." Gaomon retorted as the five rookie Digimon ran through the streets.

Renamon raced across the rooftops above them.

"We Digimon aren't supposed to be seen in public." Lalamon agreed. "We can cause a panic."

"There's no time to worry about the rules." Agumon replied as the five turned into a alleyway. "We've got to get our human partner's memories back as soon as possible."

"Kurata!" Keenan growled as he entered the command room. "Where are you?"

"Stop your hiding and fight me right now!" He demanded as the pair ran through the building.

"Kurata!" He spat, running into a dark storeroom.

"Is someone looking for little old me?" Kurata mocked as he appeared in the darkened room.

"There you are." Keenan hissed.

"Keenan. Be careful." Falcomon warned his partner as a Gizumon appeared behind the scientist.

"D.N.A Full Charge!" Keenan called forth Falcomon's Ultimate form.

"Falcomon digivolve to Peckmon!" Falcomon announced as he evolved.

"Peckmon digivolve to MegaSeadramon!" Peckmon declared as he went up another level.

"Thunder Javelin!" MegaSeadramon unleashed his attack at Kurata who was immediately protected by the Gizumon's shield. The Gizumon then used its hurricane to blow the Ultimate level Digimon away.

"MegaSeadramon!" Keenan gasped. Turning around, he was knocked off his feet by the Gizumon's attack.

"Keenan." Miki gasped at the fallen child.

"What are those things, Miki?" Megumi gaped.

"Let's not stay and find out." Miki replied.

"Agreed." Ami replied. "Come on, this way."

In the boxing center…

Thomas was practicing on the punching bag when a panting Gaomon appeared before him.

"Thomas." Gaomon looked at his partner.

Outside a musical store…

Yoshi was looking at the piano through the display window when Lalamon floated by her head.

"Hi Yoshi." The plant Digimon greeted her partner.

Back in Marcus' home…

"Please no more food." Marcus remarked, putting his chopsticks down.

"Are you full already?" Sarah blinked.

"I know I eat a lot." Marcus replied. "But still…"

"You cooked so much." Kristy finished his sentence when she looked at the plate of fried eggs on the table. "There're only three of us here, you know."

"You're right. I don't know where my mind is today." Sarah replied.

"I'm home!" Agumon called out. "Hi yea Boss!"

"What's that?" Marcus exclaimed as Sarah and Kristy screamed.

"Yippee!" Agumon whooped, seeing the fired eggs on the table. "My favorite fried eggs!"

"I'm getting my grub on it." he added, tossing the eggs into his mouth.

"My head… hurts…" Kristy moaned, clutching her head as the other two Damons followed suit.

"Hey, Frog-Monster! What are you doing just barging into our home and eating our food?" Marcus demanded.

"First of all, I'm not a frog, I'm a Digimon. It's me Boss, Agumon." Agumon corrected.

"Agumon?" Kristy echoed.

"Where have I heard that name before?" Sarah inquired.

"So what?" Marcus retorted. "I don't care what your name is. I've never met you before in my whole life!"

"Of course you have, Boss." Agumon told him. "Don't you remember me?"

"Stay where you are!" Marcus warned, giving Agumon a push. "I don't know who you are. Get out of here now!"

"Oh Boss." Agumon muttered. "I was sure you would remember everything once you saw me."

"Wait!" he thought of something. "That's it!"

"Hey, this is where I train to be an Ultimate Fighter." Marcus noted once Agumon dragged him out. "How did you know about this place?"

"This place has a lot of memories for us, Boss." Agumon told him. "We met here."

"What are you talking about?" Marcus asked.

"This is the exact spot we met. You challenged me to a fight and we decked it out man-to-man." Agumon insisted.

"Man-to-man?" Marcus echoed. "We're one short."

"Listen!" Agumon told him. "You didn't know who I was when you met me but you weren't afraid of me either. You fought me really hard, blow for blow. That's right. I admired that so much about you that I started calling you Boss. Did you forget all that? Did you forget all about your faithful employee who would follow you anywhere if you just asked?"

At that, Marcus clutched his head in pain.

With Thomas and Gaomon…

"It's still inside of you somewhere, Thomas." Gaomon insisted as Thomas was going through the same thing as Marcus. "Please try and remember. We fought together, side by side."

"We fought together?" Thomas echoed.

With Yoshi and Lalamon…

"Remember Yoshi?" Lalamon tried to jog her partner's memory as Yoshi was suffering the same headache the other two were. "All those days we were roommates together?"

"We were roommates?" Yoshi echoed.

Back with Marcus and Agumon…

"Go away!" Marcus hollered. "When I see you, it just makes my head hurt. I never want to see you again!"

"Sorry Boss!" Agumon teared, landing a punch on Marcus' face.

"Boss! I'm sorry I punched you." Agumon hurried to his partner's side. "I thought it might help."

"A…gu…mon?" Marcus stammered out.

"You know me?" Agumon gasped.

"Boss! You remember me!" He beamed, nuzzling his partner happily after Marcus gave him a knowing smile.

"Stop Agumon!" Marcus laughed. "It tickles!"

Back in DATS headquarters…

Kurata focused his camera on the reunited pair.

"Too bad." He mocked. "You could have such a nice life but no, you just had to remember. Gizmon, destroy them now."

At his command, the Gizumon flew towards its targets.

Appearing before Marcus and Agumon, it fired its eye laser at them.

"Celestial Arrow!" Angewomon's attack intervened.

"Winning Knuckle!" Machgaogamon was next, punching the Gizmon into the sea.

"Marcus!" Yoshi called out.

"Yoshi!" Marcus beamed.

"Thomas!" He looked at the blond's car came to a stop and he got out. Back in DATS headquarters…

"Impossible!" Kurata frowned. "I sent a Gizumon after the other seven. Don't tell me they defeated them all."

Back with the reunited team…

"I'm glad to see you guys got your memories back too." Marcus noted.

"Our bonds of friendship can't be destroyed no matter what they try to do to us." Thomas remarked as Yoshi nodded in agreement.

"You want me? You got me!" Marcus retorted as the Gizumon emerged from the water and tunneled towards him.

"It's fighting time!" he declared, landing a punch on the Gizumon. "It's good to be back, Agumon."

"It's good to have you back." Agumon agreed, handing over his Digivice.

"Thanks." Marcus replied, taking it. "D.N.A Full Charge!"

"Agumon warp digivolve to MetalGreymon!"

MetalGreymon knocked the Gizumon with his fist.

"Time for payback!" He remarked. "Giga Storm!"

"Howling Cannon!" Machgaogamon fired his attack.

"Heaven's Knuckle!" Angewomon unleashed her attack.

The three attacks clashed, destroying the Gizumon.

"Is it really a good idea for us to go to DATS headquarters?" Thomas asked as the group rushed back to DATS. "Remember, we're not members of the Data Squad anymore."

"We've come this far. There's no turning back now." Yoshi told him.

"I don't care if they arrest us afterwards. Kurata has to be stopped now before he does anymore damage." Marcus retorted.

"Stay away from DATS!" Yusei shouted.

"What do you mean?" Marcus asked him.

Just then, the building exploded.

"Now what?" Marcus asked as DATS blew up. "Everything's gone."

"Not everything." Ami smirked, revealing a micro-floppy.

She snickered at everyone's confused faces, "You guys don't really think I didn't make any backup copies, did you? Every single bit of data we've accumulated till now is in this baby."