Falcomon, Friend or Foe

"Lady Ami!" Tailmon gasped as the azure-haired girl collapsed on the ground.

"Ami!" Everyone else chorused.

"104 degrees Fahrenheit." Tailmon reported, feeling her partner's forehead.

"Damn." Ash cursed.

"Oh no!" Marcus gasped. "That's a pretty high fever!"

"She needs immediate medical attention." Thomas remarked, cradling her head. "We need to get her somewhere safe."

"I'm alright." The most experienced of the four replied. "We have to… get to the… Infinite Ice…"

"Stay with us, Ames." Thomas told her, seeing that she was about to pass out.

"Ami, no!" Marcus gaped.

Marcus' yell was the last thing she heard before she shut her eyes.

Sometime later in a cave…

Marcus and Agumon were pacing outside the cave as Thomas and Yoshi attended to the sick girl.

"Why are we the only ones who have to wait out here?" Marcus complained.

"It's a total lack of respect for the Boss." Agumon agreed.

"Miss Ami is a woman. It's natural for her to want her privacy." Gaomon replied.

"Thomas is a guy and he's in there!" Marcus retorted.

"Don't stop so quick Boss." Agumon whined as he rubbed his injured nose.

"Master Norstein happens to have a medical license." Gaomon informed Marcus.

"How does he have a medical license when he's the same age as me?" Marcus demanded.

"He's smarter than you." Gaomon shrugged.

"I am so much smarter!" Marcus fumed.

"I can use some checkup. Can the doctor see me next?" Agumon asked.

"Not without an appointment." Gaomon deadpanned.

Back in the cave…

"I think the last battle was too much for her." Thomas remarked after they have placed a cloth on her forehead.

"But MetalPhantomon's attack didn't get to her. Explain that one." Tailmon protested as she looked at her partner's boyfriend.

"She's going to need plenty of water and time to rest." Thomas concluded, not answering the cat. "We'll stay here until she recovers."

"You can't." Ami protested weakly. "We still have… our mission."

"Don't worry." Thomas smiled at her. "We're not just stopping because of you, Blue. The rest of need our rest too. Although that stamina freak out there would never admit it to anyone."

"Stamina freak." Ami managed a giggle. "You *do* know he's going to kill you if he heard that."

"He can try." Thomas grinned.

Ami returned his grin with a weak one, "I missed this."

"Yeah." Thomas chuckled. "We used to banter ever so often, even Yoshi wonders why we're together in the first place."

"And..." he added, before blinking when she dozed off.

"She's finally asleep." Tailmon remarked. "Nice and quiet."

"You know what." Thomas noted. "It's a little too quiet. I can't hear Marcus anymore."

"Yeah." Tailmon agreed as she followed him out. "I can't hear a petal drop."

"Yoshi, can you and Lalamon take care of her?" Thomas requested.

"On it." Yoshii replied with a thumbs-up. Remembering what Commander Sampson told her, Yoshi quickly lifted Ami's skirt and pulled out a small spear from the strap on her left thigh and placed it in her left hand.

Ami winced a little as her hand closed over the spear.

"Woah!" Yoshi gasped when the spear grew in size, growing almost a head higher than Ami. Then, the two-forked spear started glowing a blood red, its aura flaring as Ami grasped the handle.

"That's…" Tailmon gasped in recognition. "Lady Lilith's Spear! Lady Ami had it all along?"

Outside the cave…

"Oh sir." Gaomon blinked as Thomas and Tailmon exited.

"Where's Marcus and Agumon?" Thomas asked.

"I think they headed toward the river, sir." Gaomon reported.

"I swear he does things just to irritate me." Thomas sighed. "Well, Tailmon, we have to go after them, so I'm leaving Ami with the three of you. Don't let her out of your sight. Let's go, Gaomon!"

"Sir, yes sir!" Gaomon replied as the two took off.

Up on the trees, Falcomon continued his surveillance.

In the river…

"This is just like a bathtub back at your house, Boss." Agumon remarked as he played in the water.

"Hey! Help me bring back this water!" Marcus protested. "We can't let Thomas take the credit for everything around here."

"You get mad when you get all wet." Agumon laughed after splashing Marcus with water.

"Oh yeah?" Marcus challenged. "You should see how angry I get when I'm dry!"

"Boss don't!" Agumon laughed as Marcus joined in the water fight. "I'm sorry!"

"You're the one who started this! Take that!" Marcus retaliated, splashing Agumon. And that! And that! And that!"

"Marcus!" Thomas stopped them. "Marcus!"

"What do you two want?" Marcus demanded before human and Digimon sweat dropped at being caught.

"Maybe the stamina freak doesn't need a break after all, Gaomon." Thomas deadpanned.

"Yes sir." Gaomon agreed.

Both Marcus and Agumon laughed weakly.

Back in the cave…

Falcomon flew Keenan down into the cave.

"Firecracker Smokescreen!" Falcomon unleashed his smokescreen at Yoshi and Lalamon who were outside the cave.

Taking this distraction, Keenan ran into the cave.

"Lady Ami!" Tailmon called out a warning before she was swiped aside by Keenan.

"Tailmon…" Ami mumbled, peering open her eyes.

"Hu-mon." Keenan growled as he approached her.

Grabbing her shirt, he hissed, "Hu-mon enemy. Get out of Digital World! Get out!"

"Get her Keenan!" Falcomon encouraged as he ran into the cave.

"Ami!" Marcus called out as the four males arrived back. "Let her go! What kind of a guy picks on a sick girl?"

"Sorry guys. I tried." Yoshii apologized as she ran into the cave, still coughing from Falcomon's attack.

"We know you did." Thomas told her.

"You're nothing but a weird looking, pathetic little bully! You picked the wrong cave!" Marcus growled as he dashed forward to punch Keenan.

"Stop it right now." Ami ordered, grabbing onto Keenan's wrist before he pulled his boomerang out. Unknowingly, she passed the virus to him.

"What did you do?" Keenan demanded.

"Keenan!" Falcomon gasped, catching the boy before he fell over. "No, Keenan."

"You humans have passed the virus onto Keenan." He glared at the two boys.

"What virus?" Thomas inquired. "Tell us what you know about this."

"No!" Falcomon demanded, unleashing a gust of wind at them and using the distraction to fly Keenan out.

"No hello and no goodbye." Agumon remarked as the four males ran out.

"What did he mean when he said 'We gave him a virus.'?" Marcus asked.

"I'm afraid that Ami might be a lot sicker than we thought." Thomas remarked.

"Ami!" Yoshi gasped.

"Her temperature is up to 105 degrees Fahrenheit and rising." Tailmon reported, feeling her partner's forehead.

"Of course." Thomas gasped. "It's obvious now. Why didn't I see this before?"

"Stop talking in mysteries and tell me what's wrong with her?" Marcus asked.

"I thought Ames was just worn out from our last battle. But there's a possibility she's been infected with a virus from the Digital World." Thomas replied.

"What? But how?" Marcus demanded.

In the forest…

"Falcomon, where is enemy?" Keenan asked weakly.

"Don't worry about them." Falcomon told him. "Just rest Keenan."

"I'm okay." Keenan assured him as he tried to get up, only to fall back on his back again.

"Keenan…" Falcomon muttered, remembering the last time the boy was this sick. "You'll be fine. We got you better before, it will work this time. It just has to."

Back in the cave…

Agumon yawned as the two male Digimon stood guard outside. Thomas was watching over the unconscious Ami with Yoshi and Marcus looking over his shoulder. Tailmon looked on worriedly at her partner as Lalamon hovered over the ill girl.

When Thomas questioned about the glowing two-forked spear in Ami's left hand, Tailmon had explained what the weapon was.

"This isn't good." Thomas noted. "The virus is still spreading."

"Hey Doctor, why don't you use your medical license and cure her already?" Marcus mocked.

"Vaccine." Thomas muttered.

"Huh?" Marcus blinked.

"If I had any chance of curing her, I have to make a vaccine." Thomas explained. "But I need to make it from something that has the virus antidote inside of it. But how can I look for the virus antidote when I don't even know what virus she has?"

"She's got a disease?" Marcus inquired.

"Virus." Thomas corrected.

"Whatever it's called." Marcus scoffed.

"Impossible!" Tailmon objected. "As the Light of Hope, Lady Ami has total vaccinations against any virus in the Digital World! Unless… Of course!"

"Mind explaining to us?" Marcus asked.

"Remember the last battle?" the Champion Digimon reminded the three humans.

"Yeah. What about it? Yoshi asked.

"In your dreams, all of you have heard Lady Ami's voice, didn't you?" Tailmon inquired.

All three nodded.

Looking down at her partner, the cat Digimon added, "She must have lowered her defenses so that her voice could get through to all of you to pull all of you out of your dreams!"

"She did that?" Thomas gasped. "Just to get all of us out?"

Tailmon nodded, "A great sacrifice, but that's Lady Ami for you."

"If we don't make the vaccine, what will happen?" Marcus asked the blond. "Will she get worse?"

"It's…" Thomas trailed off. "Hard to say."

"She has to get better." Lalamon remarked. "She just has to."

"Please Thomas." Tailmon looked at her partner's lover. "Save her."

"That's not a request." Marcus added, grabbing Thomas by his shirt. "That's a demand."

"At the rate the virus is spreading, I can't guarantee anything." Thomas admitted.

"We also have no idea where a vaccine is." Ash added.

*'But I have a pretty good idea who does.'* He thought.

In the forest…

Falcomon was looking worriedly at the gasping Keenan, "Oh Keenan. I'm going to get you better soon. It's okay. You'll going to be fine."

*Flashback*

"*I'm sure he'll be fine, Frigimon." Falcomon assured the snowman-like Digimon.*

"*I'm leaving little Keenan in your hands, Falcomon." Frigimon told Falcomon as she prepared to go out.*

"*Frigimon! Wait!" Falcomon called and the female Digimon turned.*

"*Yes?" Frigimon asked.*

"*Why are you always so concerned about the human child?" Falcomon asked. "I mean he's always sick and he just lies there. He's not much fun at all."*

"*You're a good boy, Falcomon." Frigimon told him. "But you need to have more compassion for others."*

"*If you don't come back, I'll be stuck here alone with the boy." Falcomon told her. "Why don't you let me come to Wondrous Cape with you?"*

"*Absolutely not!" Frigimon objected. "That place's been contaminated! It's alright. I'll be back, don't worry."*

"Looks like I have no choice." Falcomon remarked as he looked at the night sky. "I must go to Wondrous Cape."

Back in the cave…

"Hey Gaomon." Agumon turned to the blue wolf. "What's being sick mean anyway? Is it like being hungry?"

"No, sometimes when one is sick, they actually lose their appetite." Gaomon replied.

"They don't get hungry?" Agumon asked. "I see! So they're not able to eat fried eggs anymore!"

"They're not able to eat anything." Gaomon told him.

"Not eat anything?" Agumon exclaimed. "That's horrible! What are we going to do if Ami can't eat again?"

"I don't know." Gaomon replied. "But I know Thomas is sure to come up with something."

"I'm coming in." Falcomon announced his presence, as he carried Keenan on his back. "Don't attack."

"If you want to cure this virus." The bird Digimon told the two male Digimon on guard. "Then you're going to have to follow me to Wanderers Cape."

"It's you!" Agumon gasped.

"What are you saying?" Gaomon asked.

"Same symptoms." Thomas noted as they placed Keenan beside Ami. "Labored breathing, easily fatigued, high fever, racing pulse, cold sweat."

"You don't have to examine him. We already know Keenan has the virus!" Falcomon retorted.

"He likes being thorough." Marcus told the bird. "In case you're leading us into a trap, we want to make sure he's really sick."

"I want to help Keenan. So, why would I lie? We must go to Wanderers Cape!" Falcomon replied.

"Why not just go by yourself then?" Gaomon asked.

"That place…" Falcomon added. "Is being contaminated."

"Contaminated?" Thomas echoed.

"Because humans have lived there before." Falcomon explained. "That's why we Digimon only go there if we absolutely have no other choice."

"Wait a minute!" Marcus exclaimed. "Humans lived here?"

"Are you talking about Doctor Damon's party?" Thomas asked.

"Forgive me if I didn't get to know them on a first-name basis." Falcomon told the blond. "Everyone has always told me to stay away, so I did. But humans like you might keep me safe."

Thomas sighed, "I'm just not sure if we should believe what you're saying."

"I believe him." Lalamon remarked, causing everyone to look at her.

"Me too." Tailmon agreed. "I don't think he's lying. He cares too much about the boy."

Lalamon nodded, "Please let's join forces. It might be our only chance to save Ami."

"Then, what do you think, Thomas?" Marcus asked.

"I don't think we have much of a choice." Thomas replied as he stood up.

"I believe him too." Gaomon agreed.

"Yeah!" Agumon whooped.

"Okay owl-boy, lead the way." Marcus told the bird Digimon.

"We have to hurry and get the vaccine." Thomas noted as the group stood outside the cave. "The virus is still spreading. Can we make it in a day?"

"We'll make it." Marcus assured him. "Lalamon, stay behind with Tailmon and Yoshi and take care of Ami."

"Okay." Lalamon replied. "Please be careful."

"And," she turned to Falcomon. "Don't worry, we're look after your little friend as well."

"All right." Falcomon replied after a while. "Follow me."

"Hey, we may be following you. But you don't give the orders." Marcus told the bird.

Meanwhile, a Kuramon continued its surveillance.

"Falco-dude." Marcus started as the boys walked along a beach. "You said there were humans who used to live at Wondrous Cape. Where are they now?"

"Who knows." Falcomon replied.

"You don't know much, do you?" Marcus teased.

"Frigimon might have known them, but she never told me." Falcomon replied.

"Well, can you ask her for us?" Marcus asked.

"That's impossible." Falcomon answered.

"Why won't you ask?" Marcus demanded.

"She's no longer with us." Falcomon replied.

"I thought Digimon don't die. Their data just gets reconfigured." Thomas pointed out, causing Marcus to growl at him.

"Sorry for your loss." Marcus remarked, realizing the insensitivity of the sentence Thomas just spoke.

"Now you know why I hate humans so much." Falcomon added.

"I'm sorry." Thomas muttered.

"Sir!' Gaomon reported. "I think that's it."

"So that's Wanderers Cape." Thomas noted as they looked over the buildings hanging upside down on an overhanging cliff.

Back in Merukimon's fortress…

"So the humans have gone to Wondrous Cape." Merukimon noted.

"Yes, Merukimon." Gotsumon replied. "What should we do now?"

"Let them go." Merukimon told him.

"But sir, we just can't let them roam free." Gotsumon protested.

"I said let them go!" Merukimon demanded.

"Yes sir!" Gotsumon stammered.

"I don't understand any of this at all." The rock Digimon pondered as he walked off. "What on earth can Merukimon be thinking? I mean he must have a plan, right?"

"You look rather confused, Gotsumon." Blossomon remarked as he appeared in front of the rock Digimon.

"Oh Blossomon." Gotsumon blinked at the flower Digimon.

"I'm in complete agreement with you." Blossomon replied. "We can't just let these humans wander around our Digital World like they own it or something. As for the Digimon who betrayed us, they will be punished severely. Are you with me?"

"Of course!" Gotsumon concurred. "I knew I could always rely on you!"

"It's been a long time since my ninja flowers have enjoyed their favorite meal of human buffet." Blossomon chuckled.

On Wondrous Cape…

"How did it turn upside down like this?" Thomas inquired.

"Sir, this place smells dangerous." Gaomon informed him.

"So, what do we do now?" Marcus asked. "Knock?"

"I don't know." Falcomon replied. "This is my first time here."

"What are you, scared or something?" Agumon mocked.

"How dare you call me scared? Stop mocking me! I'm not!" Falcomon protested.

"You are scared!" Agumon teased.

"Agumon, leave him alone." Marcus told the orange dinosaur. "Let's go."

"Humph!" Falcomon snorted as Marcus pushed open the door.

"Doesn't look like a place they make vaccines." Marcus remarked as they stepped into the mansion.

"Don't let your guard down." Gaomon warned.

"It's seems like no one's been here in ages." Thomas noted as the group climbed the stairs.

"I wonder what the cleaning deposit is on a place this big." Agumon remarked.

Falcomon then blinked as he saw a vine from outside a window.

"Sir, look." Gaomon pointed to an outdated computer in a room on the second floor.

"That's quite an old PC." Thomas remarked. "I guess this is proof that humans lived here once. Let's see if the computer still works."

That said, he switched on the computer.

"Bingo!" he remarked as the computer turned on.

"I don't have a password. It could be almost anything." He added, as the logon screen came on.

"Maybe not." Marcus pointed out. "What if the password was something that has to do my dad?"

"Yeah." Thomas agreed.

Falcomon coughed and pulled on Marcus' shirt.

"Let's go!" the bird urged. "We're here for the vaccine, not the computer. We're wasting time."

"There's time for both." Marcus told him. "Thomas, you handle the things in here. We'll go look for the vaccine."

"What's this place?" he asked once they entered the kitchen. "Looks like a kitchen."

"Kitchen!" Agumon beamed as he approached the refrigerator. "That's where Sarah keeps the box that holds the fried eggs."

"Huh?" he blinked, opening the fridge door, only to find a single tube of liquid in the fridge's top tray.

"That's not an egg." He added, taking the tube. "It's not even fried."

"That's it!" Falcomon exclaimed, causing Agumon to panic and almost drop the vaccine.

Both Falcomon and Marcus sighed when Agumon regained his hold on the vaccine.

"This is the vaccine?" Marcus blinked at the cylinder in Agumon's palm.

"Yes." Falcomon replied. "It looks like the same one that Frigimon gave Keenan the last time he was sick."

"This thing?" Marcus inquired.

"Sorry!" Blossomon intercepted, grabbing the vaccine with his vine.

"Boss look!" Agumon exclaimed. "The vaccine!"

"Give that back to us!" Marcus demanded as the trio took off after Blossomon.

Back with Thomas and Gaomon…

"If the virus was first created out of digital data, then it shouldn't be able to infect a human." Thomas noted as he tried password after password. "But somehow, it did exactly that."

"No luck?" Gaomon asked.

"Why did the DATS team need such high security?" Thomas hissed.

Back with Marcus, Agumon and Falcomon…

The three were chasing after Blossomon's vine.

"I'm Blossomon, an Ultimate level Digimon! Let me introduce you to my ninja flowers! They may not have thorns, but they can pierce you to the bone." the flower Digimon introduced himself once he had the trio in the hall. "Falcomon! Your betrayal has made Merukimon furious!"

"No, please." Falcomon replied. "It's not true!"

"You've changed sides." Blossomon accused. "Prepare to pay!"

Marcus dived to push Falcomon out of Blossomon's incoming vine.

"I can't believe that you saved me." Falcomon remarked in astonishment.

"Of course, birdbrain." Marcus replied. "We're on the same team, aren't we?"

Getting off the ground, Falcomon flew to face Blossomon.

"Give me the vaccine!" The bird demanded. "Right now!"

Blossomon tightened his hold on the cylinder just as Falcomon dove in and grabbed the tube with his beak.

"Nice grab, Falcomon!" Marcus beamed.

Their victory was short-lived when Blossomon slapped Falcomon towards the ground with his vine, causing Marcus to cushion the bird's fall.

"Gotcha!" Marcus told the bird.

"I'm not doing this for you humans." Falcomon reminded him. "I'm doing it for Keenan."

"Boss!" Agumon called out.

"You fools!" Blossomon remarked. "You're not leaving with that vaccine!"

"Oh yeah?" Marcus challenged. "That's what he thinks huh?"

"Yeah." Falcomon agreed, catching on the boy's plan.

"We'll show that overgrown house plant he can't mess with the ultimate team," Marcus grinned.

Back in the cave…

"I'm sorry, guys." Ami muttered to Tailmon, having woken up. "I know I caused you and the others so much grief."

"Don't say such things." Yoshi chided.

"I'm so tired." Ami admitted.

"Just rest, Lady Ami." Tailmon told her partner.

"Just rest." Lalamon agreed.

Ami smiled and shut her eyes, a calm expression on her face as the aura of the spear in her hand continue to radiate.

"She looks so… peaceful." Yoshi remarked after Ami fell back to sleep. "It's as if she isn't worried that the boys won't make it back in time."

Back in the mansion…

"Pepper Breath!" Agumon unleashed his attack.

"Ha!" Blossomon mocked, his petals turning like a windmill, blowing the flame attack away.

"What's keeping you? Get out of here with that vaccine!" Marcus hollered at Falcomon.

"Why are you putting all your trust in me?" Falcomon asked. "There's only one vaccine. I could easily betray you by only giving it to Keenan and letting your friend suffer."

"Well, if you don't know, then I'll tell you." Marcus replied. "Only cowards betray their friends and you're not a coward. You managed to get us this far and that makes you okay in my book. You had a bunch of chances to betray us but you proved yourself a good fighter and so far you kept your word. We're friends and that's why I trust you."

Falcomon then took off to the door after hearing Marcus' speech.

"Where do you think you're going?" Blossomon demanded.

"Focus on me, you big weed!" Marcus challenged.

"Fightin' time!" Agumon agreed.

"Well, well, what do we have here? A Digimon partnered with a human?" Blossomon mocked.

"Spiral Flower!" he unleashed his attack, forcing Marcus and Agumon to dodge the spinning flowers.

Upstairs…

"We were attacked, sir." Gaomon informed his partner after Blossomon's attack blasted through the room. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah." Thomas replied before gasping when he saw that the computer screen was destroyed. "The computer!"

Downstairs…

Blossomon chuckled as he grabbed Marcus with his vines.

"Who's the weakling now, little man?" the flower Digimon mocked.

"Boss!" Agumon called, coming to his rescue. "Pepper Breath!"

His attack was cut short when Blossomon grabbed him with his vines.

"You need better friends." Blossomon told the orange Digimon in his grasp.

"What are you waiting for, Falcomon?" Marcus shouted at the bird. "Get out of here!"

"But…" Falcomon protested.

"Don't argue with me! Just get that vaccine to the ones who need it!" Marcus scolded.

"I'm on my way." Falcomon nodded and took off.

"No you don't!" Blossomon retorted, reaching out his vine to catch Falcomon.

"Double Backhand!" Gaomon's attack came into the scene, slicing through the vine, before crashing landing beside his partner.

"It's Thomas!" Marcus gasped.

"Gaomon!" Agumon gaped.

"I'm sorry Marcus." Thomas informed the other teen. "But that Digimon destroyed the computer."

"He did what?" Marcus exclaimed.

"Too bad." Blossomon mocked.

"Well sir?" Gaomon inquired.

"Let's go, Gaomon." Thomas told his partner. "D.N.A, Full Charge!"

"Gaomon warp digivolve to Machgaogamon!" Gaomon announced as he evolved.

"Go!" Thomas instructed.

"How dare you partner with a human?" Blossomon demanded, using his vine to attack the newly evolved Machgaogamon. The Ultimate level Digimon dodged the vine easily, dashing forward to punch the sunflower in the face and sending the flower Digimon flying out of the building. As Blossomon fell into the water, Machgaogamon caught Marcus and Agumon in his hands before the pair dropped into the sea.

"Hey Machgaogamon." Marcus beamed.

"Nice catch, pal." Agumon added.

"Back for more, I see." Marcus remarked, after Blossomon burst out of the water and started chasing them. Leaping off Machgaogamon, he then landed a punch on Blossomon's face.

"D.N.A, Full Charge!" he called forth the D.N.A charge from his Digivice.

"Boss!" Agumon called, jumping off to connect with the D.N.A charge. "Agumon wrap digivolve to RizeGreymon!"

"RizeGreymon!" Marcus beamed as the dinosaur caught him.

"That's it! I've had enough!" Blossomon hollered. "Spiral Flowers!"

"Your attacks are useless." RizeGreymon told him, the spinning flowers bouncing off his armor. "Trident Revolver!"

The flower Digimon screamed as the attack hit him, turning him into a digiegg and it fell into the sea.

After the guys returned…

"We're back." Marcus told the girls as the four ran in.

"How's Ames doing?" Thomas asked.

"Shh!" Yoshi hushed the boys. "Keep it down. Her fever's finally broken and she just got to sleep."

"And where's Keenan and Falcomon?" Thomas asked.

"They left?" Gaomon inquired.

"Yes, but when he got here, Falcomon gave Ami the vaccine first." Yoshi replied.

"He came through afterall." Thomas noted.

"Didn't I tell ya?" Marcus told the blond. "That guy is a man's man."

"He's a bird, but I know what you mean." Thomas agreed.

Up top…

"Keenan." Falcomon looked at the awakened boy on his back. "You're awake. You're getting better because these humans helped you."

"Me no care." Keenan replied. "They still hu-mons. They wipe Frigimon out."

"I understand." Falcomon sighed and carried the boy back.