My mind was racing. Jessica was mind-controlled, and by the sounds of it, it wasn't just some random Digimon this time. Gatomon landed softly on my shoulder, her usual calm demeanor slightly ruffled.
"She was under someone's control," Gatomon said, her voice a low murmur. "That's the real problem, isn't it?"
I looked at my Digivice, the screen showing a blank slate where Jessica's signal should have been. Nothing. It was like she'd just vanished.
"Maybe it's the same guy who had those other humans dancing like puppets," BlackGatomon chimed in, her tone sharper than usual.
Yeah, that's what I was thinking. And Gyuukimon was with them, too. Coincidence? Or are they all working together? I ran a hand through my perpetually messy hair, pacing the small apartment. This was getting complicated, fast.
"It's one thing to fight a rogue Digimon, but this… this is different," I muttered, more to myself than anyone else.
Gatomon nudged my cheek with her head. "We'll find her, Ethan. We always do."
BlackGatomon, surprisingly, agreed. "Yeah, boss. Even if this guy's got some kinda mind-control thing going on, he can't be that tough, right?"
I forced a smile, trying to project confidence I didn't quite feel. "Right. He can't be." But even as I said it, a cold dread settled in my stomach. Mind control was a whole new level of messed up.
My abilities are pretty much useless right now. Gyuukimon vanished without a trace, and now Jessica is gone too.
I stopped at my computer, pulling up security footage from the alley.
"Let's see who this puppet master is," I muttered, my fingers flying across the keyboard.
The screen flickered through grainy camera feeds from the restaurant alley. Just a figure, dark and blurry. No face. Whoever this guy is, he's careful. Too careful.
"Okay, so my tech is failing me," I sighed, leaning back in my chair. "I can't track him, and I can't identify him."
I tapped my Digivice against my chin, a new thought sparking. "But someone else out there knows how to find people who don't want to be found. People who pull strings from the shadows."
Gatomon landed softly on my shoulder, her blue eyes meeting mine. "You're thinking of SHIELD, aren't you?"
"Nick Fury, specifically," I confirmed, already scrolling through my Digivice contacts. "If anyone knows how to identify a shadowy puppet master, it's him. And I bet he's already looking into all this mind-control stuff."
Alright, Fury. Time to earn that 'Director' title. I tapped Fury's number on my Digivice. The line rang once, twice. It was always a gamble calling him, like a boss battle where you didn't know the mechanics.
"This better be good, Ethan."
His voice was exactly how I expected it to be: gravelly and straight to the point. No pleasantries. Just pure, unfiltered Nick Fury.
"Fury. I need information. About the man controlling Jessica." My voice was tight, probably betraying more frustration than I wanted. He probably sensed it too.
"Why should I divulge classified intelligence to a teenager with a penchant for chaos?"
He didn't even skip a beat, did he? Always with the backhanded comments. I could practically hear him raising an eyebrow through the phone.
"Because I'm not playing games right now."
And I really wasn't. Not when Jessica was involved.
"This guy is a threat, Fury. A big one. And if I know SHIELD, you want him off the board just as much as I do."
The line was silent, heavy with unspoken tension. I could practically hear the gears grinding in his one good eye. He was weighing his options, trying to figure out if I was bluffing, if I was worth the trouble.
"Stop playing this high-stakes poker, Fury. Tell me what you know. We can cooperate. You need my Digimon, and I need your intel."
He let out a sigh that sounded like sandpaper rubbing together. It wasn't a surrender, more like a tactical retreat.
"I'll give you the information shortly. In person."
Click.
He hung up. Just like that.
My Digivice buzzed again, pulling me from my thoughts about Jessica's sudden mood swing.
"In person? Seriously?" I muttered, glaring at the device screen.
BlackGatomon, who was meticulously cleaning her claws on my hoodie sleeve, paused. "Looks like you're going to have to wait," she said, her voice dripping with its usual smugness, though I could detect a hint of annoyance beneath it.
I sighed, running a hand over my perpetually messy hair. "Yeah, I know. I just hate waiting."
Every second ticking by felt like an hour, and my gut twisted thinking about what might be happening to Jessica. She was out there, mind-controlled, probably forced to do… whatever this purple creep wanted. I mean, after everything she'd been through, this was just unfair.
Gatomon seemed to pick up on my mood, rubbing her head against my hand. "We'll find her, Ethan. Fury will be here soon, right?"
"Yeah, but 'soon' could mean anything with him," I grumbled. My mind was already running through scenarios, trying to plan a rescue, but I was flying blind. This wasn't a game where I could just check a walkthrough. This was Jessica.
BlackGatomon snorted, a low sound from my shoulder. "Humans are so dramatic. She's strong, she'll be fine."
I knew she was strong, probably stronger than she even realized, but being mind-controlled? That was a different kind of strength, or lack thereof. It made me feel useless, and I hated that feeling. Every single second felt like a missed opportunity to help her.
My Digivice buzzed with a priority notification, and the sender ID was Fury. That was quick.
The message was short and to the point, just coordinates and a time stamp. No explanation, no preamble. Classic Fury.
"Got a lead. Sending you the location. Move now."
"Gatomon, BlackGatomon, we're moving," I said, already heading for the door. Jessica was out there, and Fury wasn't the type to send a social invitation.
The two cats moved beside me, their usual bickering replaced by focused silence. They could read the tension in my voice.
We hit the street, and I didn't bother with subtlety. I tapped my Digivice, and a moment later, the roar of a high-performance engine echoed down the block. Behemoth slid to a stop at the curb, its single headlight gleaming.
"Let's see what the Director's dug up," I muttered, swinging a leg over the seat. My partners leapt on behind me, and we tore into the city's traffic, the coordinates already locked in on my display.
***
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