Chapter 10: A Clue From The Digi-Past

[BEN’s bed is flying down to an island.]

Ben: Whoa! Tentomon I would say we’re traveling at a very high speed plummeting toward an unidentified island. And uh, crash landing is imminent.

Tentomon: Try to think of it as if we’re just hitting the beach.

[In the sky over the second island, AFTON and PALMON fly down on their bed, yelling and they crash into the forest.]

Afton: Ooh, now that should be good for some frequent flyer miles.

[Later AFTON is dressed and it’s morning.]

Palmon: Are you alright Afton?

Afton: Oh no, humidity.

Palmon: Yeah, some kind of tropical rain forest but not one I’m familiar with, it all happened so fast. Where are we?

Afton: Have you any idea what humidity does to my hair?

Palmon: Hm?

Afton: It goes like all poodley, not a pretty sight.

Palmon: Uh…perhaps we ought to look around and see if we can find any of the others.

Afton: Yeah, let’s go. Maybe we can at least find some air conditioning or something.

[On the other island, BEN and TENTOMON are outside a labyrinth.]

Tentomon: Well here we are Ben, hardly the light and breezy island style lodgings I was expecting to find.

Ben: Whoa.

Tentomon: Uh yes very interesting, Ben, but don’t you think we should keep searching for the others? I mean now really isn’t the time-

Ben: I know, but just look at this place, it’s prodigious. I gotta check it out Tentomon, just for a minute.

[BEN walks in.]

Tentomon: All right, but just for a minute.

[TENTOMON flies in.]

[On AFTON’s island they see bananas.]

Afton: Yum, bananas!

Palmon: Banana?

[AFTON points at them.]

Afton: Can you reach high enough?

Palmon: Mm hm.

[PALMON reaches out her vines and pulls the banana pack down and AFTON grabs it and takes a banana.]

Afton: I was really starved.

[PALMON brings the rest down.]

Afton: Now we can pretend we’re having banana splits, huh Palmon.

[PALMON smiles. AFTON pulls apart the banana to see there’s nothing inside.]

Afton: Huh? Hey what’s the big idea?!

Palmon: They certainly do look delicious.

[PALMON takes one and bites it.]

Afton: I can’t believe it! This place is seriously getting on my nerves!

[AFTON squats down and some pink sludge falls down behind her.]

Afton: Hm?

[She turns and looks.]

Afton: Hm, is that hair mousse?

[AFTON backs away.]

Afton: Yuck!

Palmon: Ew!

[Something makes a noise in the tree.] Afton and Palmon: Huh?

[In the tree, SUKAMON, a big yellow DIGIMON sits there with CHUUMON, a little pink mouse DIGIMON on his shoulder.]

Sukamon: Uh duh goodbye, meet to nice you.

Chuumon: He means hello, nice to meet cha.

Afton: Palmon, who’s the talking dessert?!

Palmon: It’s Sukamon and Chuumon, also known as the Digi-losers.

Sukamon: Hey, tanks.

Palmon: Sukamon and Chuumon are always together because they share the same teeny, tiny brain.

Afton: Ah!

[AFTON and PALMON run away with SUKAMON and CHUUMON jumping on tree branches throwing more Digi-sludge at them.]

Sukamon: Wait!

[AFTON stops and turns.]

Afton: Alright that’s enough, leave us alone!

Sukamon: Uh sure okay, but first you gotta pay a—what do ya call it?

Chuumon: Pay a toll.

Afton: Huh?

Palmon: What do you mean a toll?

Sukamon: Uh, does she think she can use our woods for free? She’s gotta pay, like that uh purse there, for instance.

Chuumon: I like the hat.

Afton: No!

Sukamon and Chuumon: Huh?

Afton: What part of ‘no’ don’t you understand, you whackazoids? Now get out of here!

[CHUUMON whispers to SUKAMON.]

Chuumon: I think she insulted us.

Afton: Bingo Einstein.

Sukamon: She did?

Chuumon: Go ahead, let her have it.

[AFTON opens her eyes to see they’re throwing sludge at them again so AFTON and PALMON run yelling.]

Sukamon: Do it again, do it again. Ha ha ha ha.

[They stop at a tree.]

Afton: Ugh, that is it. I give up, I wanna see the camp therapist.

[SUKAMON and CHUUMON jump on the tree branch and drop, holding onto the tree and SUKAMON grabs AFTON’s bag strap where the Digivice is.]

Sukamon: Ooh pretty.

[AFTON turns around.]

Afton: Hm?

[SUKAMON and CHUUMON glow.]

Chuumon: Whoa! That’s better than chewin’ tin foil!

[SUKAMON and CHUUMON drop to the ground smiling.]

Sukamon: Oh, I feel all tingly and refreshed like a whole new person.

Chuumon: Yeah, we’re a whole new person.

Afton: Is this one as much of a pain as the last one?

Sukamon: No really, we’ll be nice from now on. Really.

Afton: So you’ll leave us alone?

Palmon: Wait, first tell us if you’ve seen any other humans around here.

Sukamon: Any what?

Palmon: Creatures that look like this one. Sukamon: Uh…

Chuumon: Well as a matter of fact.

Sukamon: Oh yeah I forgot!

Afton: Tell me.

[SUKAMON blushes.]

Sukamon: Uh…well it wasn’t nearly as pretty as you are of course, but we saw something fall into the old ruins with a Tentomon.

Afton: So when were you planning on telling us, next week? They must’ve seen Ben too, Palmon.

Palmon: Listen you two, can you take us there? It’s important that we find him.

Sukamon: Sure, okey dokey.

Palmon: No funny business!

Sukamon: Cross our heart.

Chuumon: And hope to die.

Palmon: Well of all the absolutely ridiculous things to say.

[At the edge of the island, they arrive and see another island floating along the ocean at the same pace just a few feet away.]

Sukamon: Right, over…there.

[AFTON and PALMON see the island.]

Afton and Palmon: Huh?

Afton: Oh well that’s great, just great. How are we supposed to get over there?

Chuumon: You’re the one with the big hat, you think of something! A gorgeous girl like you must have a big brain.

Afton: Thanks a lot, really.

Sukamon: Before you go, maybe you’d give us a big thank you kiss, huh?

[SUKAMON and CHUUMON blow a kiss at Afton.]

Afton: Oh please tell me they’re kidding!

[PALMON throws her vines across the water and grabs a tree.]

Palmon: Climb aboard quickly!

[AFTON grabs on and PALMON pulls and they fly to the other side.]

Sukamon: Oh, maybe we jumped the gun.

[They get to the other island.]

Afton: Oh, blech. Just the thought of that kiss is making me queasy.

Sukamon: It’s okay! We’ll wait till you come back!

Afton: Don’t hold your breath.

[AFTON and PALMON pull their bottom eyelid down and stick out their tongues at SUKAMON and CHUUMON.]

[In the labyrinth main room, BEN and TENTOMON walk in.]

Tentomon: Okay Ben, I highly suggest putting an end to this architectural tour.

Ben: As I mentioned before, I’m gathering information. I’m sure this place is crawling with clues.

[BEN looks and sees a giant Black Gear in the ground spinning.]

Ben: Look! It’s one of Devimon’s Black Gears.

[They run over to it.]

Tentomon: So it is.

Ben: Know what I think? If we keep this Gear from turning we’ll completely jam that creep up.

Tentomon: Or even better, we could not do that. Wouldn’t that be fun? And then we can go look for the others like we should’ve done in the first place.

Ben: Wait a minute this is the same writing we saw the last time. Remember?

[Flashback to BEN and TENTOMON in the control room in the factory.]

Ben: It made me realize that in DigiWorld, basic data is a living, viable substance.

[End flashback.]

Ben: All that data is stored on my hard drive. If only there was a power source here.

Tentomon: Get a power source, stop the Gear, is ‘find our friends’ on that list?

[BEN sees lit lights above.]

Ben: Huh, those lights are getting power from somewhere. Hey, an outlet! Check it out.

[BEN plugs his laptop into it and the laptop starts up.]

Ben: It works!

Tentomon: [sarcastically] Oh, goody.

[BEN sits with his laptop, looks at the wall and types.]

Ben: Now, let’s see if I can decipher this.

[Outside the ruins, AFTON and PALMON are in the bushes.]

Afton: Here are the old ruins. Let’s just hope that giant kissy-faced lemon custard was telling the truth.

Palmon: One way to find out.

Afton: Yeah!

[They jump out of the bushes and walk into the main room to see BEN typing and TENTOMON sitting.]

Afton: It’s them!

[TENTOMON turns around.]

Tentomon: Afton.

Afton: Tentomon! And Ben! Hey!

Ben: Uh…hi, Afton.

Afton: Finally a friendly face. Where’s the rest of the gang? Ben: I have no idea.

[BEN returns to typing.]

Afton: But, uh shouldn’t we like look for them or something? What are you doing anyway?

Ben: Right now I’m trying to decipher these hieroglyphs.

Afton: Well can’t that wait, if you don’t mind my asking.

Tentomon: That’s what I keep telling him, ‘let’s go look for the others’ I say, but does he listen to me? No.

Afton: All right, get up Ben.

Ben: I’m sure the key to figuring everything out is in here.

[AFTON is getting ticked.]

Ben: The question is does each glyph represent a letter, a word, or a phrase. Hm, I’ll have to cross reference the characteristics.

All: Huh…

[Later on, AFTON, PALMON, and TENTOMON are bored out of their minds.]

Afton: Ben, any idea how long this is going to take? I mean can we go some time before winter sets in? Ben!

Tentomon: Ben, your friend is asking you a question.

Afton: Yeah and her rear end’s getting cold sitting on the stone floor doing nothing.

Ben: Hm, oh wait! Wait! Yeah, yeah that might work!

Afton: Hm!

[AFTON stands up.]

Tentomon: Uh-oh, Ben!

Afton: Are you ignoring me, you computer geek pipsqueak!?

Ben: Okay, so if I make the variable constant and search for viral patterns.

[AFTON gets madder.]

Ben: Hey! Here’s something!

[A map of the labyrinth appears on the screen.]

Ben: Prodigious! These ruins are a gigantic maze!

Afton: I’m leaving! Right now!

[AFTON starts to cry and BEN turns around.]

Ben: Huh?

Tentomon: Oh don’t cry, Afton.

[PALMON cries too.]

Tentomon: Oh no, not you too! Ben, do something!

Ben: Do what? My laptop can’t do everything!

Tentomon: I don’t know, tell her you’re sorry!

Ben: Sorry? For what?!

Afton: I can’t take it anymore! I haven’t had anything to eat, my feet are killing me, and a giant lemon custard tried to kiss me…and all I want to do is get out of here!

Palmon: We just want to leave, is that so wrong?!

[PALMON runs over to BEN.]

Palmon: Honestly, Ben, how can you be so insensitive?

Ben: Insensitive, what do you mean?

Palmon: You ignore us while you poke away at your computer.

Ben: I’m not ignoring you; I’m doing something ultra-important, like maybe saving this world. If I can just decipher these hieroglyphs then maybe we could…

Afton: Just keep your stupid hieroglyphics!

[AFTON runs into the maze crying.]

Tentomon: Afton, wait!

[TENTOMON flies in after her.]

Palmon: You just like playing on your computer, that’s all.

Ben: You think I’m just playing around here?

Palmon: I only think you like computers more than people.

[BEN sees they’re the only ones in the room.]

Ben: Don’t look now, but Afton and Tentomon are gone.

[PALMON stops crying.]

Palmon: Now what do we do? Hm?

[AFTON is running in the labyrinth, crying.]

Afton: I hate this place! I’ll never recommend this resort to anyone!

Tentomon: Afton wait!

[She trips and falls on her face and TENTOMON flies to her.]

Tentomon: Oh dear! Afton! Afton, are you alright?

Afton: I’m not a bad person.

[She gets to her knees.]

Afton: So why is all happening to me?

Tentomon: Afton, we’ve got to be careful. One wrong turn and we can get lost in here.

[AFTON stands up.]

Afton: All I want to do is get back home, that’s all!

[She runs into a corridor.]

Tentomon: Please wait! I really think we ought to find our way back!

[He flies behind her.]

Afton: I want my own bed! My own bathroom! I’m even starting to miss my baby brother!

Tentomon: Please, stop running off!

[Outside the labyrinth.]

Palmon: I don’t see them anywhere! Where could they have gone?

Ben: They didn’t go deeper into the maze, did they?

Palmon: That’d be my guess.

Ben: These deciphered hieroglyphs tell me the inside of these ruins is a giant labyrinth. So if that is the case, they could be lost in there forever.

Palmon: Forever? Oh…

[In the labyrinth.]

Afton: Hey uh, Tentomon.

Tentomon: Yes?

Afton: You get the feeling we’re sort of going around in circles?

Tentomon: Hm.

Afton: See this silly smudge on the wall? I remember passing it a long time ago.

Tentomon: You’re right.

Afton: Could it be that we’re lost?

Tentomon: I realize this is probably a bad time to say I told you so, but…

Afton: Oh quiet!

[She looks down the hall.]

[In the main room.]

Palmon: Oh I can't bear it, I’m going in!

Ben: And get lost too? No Palmon, we have got to use our heads first.

Palmon: But we can’t just leave them.

Ben: We won’t, but this is one super complicated maze. I’ve gotta try to get a handle on it. Then maybe I can help get them out.

[In the maze.]

Tentomon: Well, being lost isn’t so bad.

[AFTON drops her head.]

Afton: Mm, great.

Tentomon: Oh dear, are you hurt?

Afton: No, I’m fine, I’m getting used to it by now.

[She walks forward.]

Afton: If I’d just gone to cheerleading camp, none of this would’ve happened.

Tentomon: Let’s try a systematic approach to this. Maybe if we just keep turning to the left or something like that.

Afton: Why should I listen to you? It’s your friend Ben that got me into this mess in the first place.

[She turns and walks.]

Tentomon: Wait! Don’t be too hard on him! Yes he gets a little wrapped up in his work, he doesn’t always interact well with others, but he’s a good boy.

[In the main room.]

Ben: There they are!

[On the screen a red dot moves.]

Palmon: That’s Afton, that blinking light?

Ben: Precisely.

[He moves the pointer to the dot and they hear the two of them.]

Tentomon: No, no not that way.

Afton: Oh buzz off, leave me alone!

Palmon: That’s my girl.

Ben: I’ve homed in on her signal from the Digivice. We can hear her; let’s hope she can hear us.

[He puts on an operator earpiece.]

Ben: Ben to Afton, do you read me?

[In the hall Afton stops when she hears Ben.]

Ben: Repeat, do you read me?

Afton: Ben, is that you?

Ben: Alright it’s working! Okay Afton, I’m gonna navigate for you, so walk exactly where I tell you to.

Afton: Uh…

Palmon: Don’t worry, it’ll be okay. He knows what he’s doing.

Tentomon: Is that you, Palmon?

Palmon: Just do what Ben tells you and you’ll be outta there before ya know it.

Tentomon: See, I told you Ben was a good boy.

[AFTON smiles.]

Ben: Okay now take the first doorway on the right.

[They do.]

Ben: When you get to the end turn left, but be careful of the next room because there’s a big hole in the middle of the floor.

[AFTON steps on the floor and it crumbles and falls apart leaving a narrow edge on the sides.]

Ben: There should be a narrow ledge you can use to get across.

Afton looks and sees it.

Afton: Ben, did we have to take this scenic route?

[On the screen they cross and a yellow dot blinks before the false floor room.]

Ben: Uh-oh.

Palmon: What do you mean uh-oh?

[In the hallway.]

Afton: Kay, I’m ready, which way should we go?

Tentomon: Something has happened.

[In the main room the dot moves.]

Ben: I was hoping he was just a glitch, but there’s definitely something in that maze with them and it’s moving closer.

Palmon: Now I am starting to worry.

[In the maze AFTON and TENTOMON are awaiting orders and a hoof steps down, unnoticed.]

Afton: Ben, what’s with the silent treatment?

[The DIGIMON laughs.]

Tentomon: Did you hear that?

[TENTOMON looks for the sound’s origin.]

Tentomon: It sounded evil.

[AFTON listens for the noise.]

Centarumon: Tentomon, it’s been such a long time.

Tentomon: Oh no!

[CENTARUMON leaps the hole.]

Tentomon: Centarumon—half man, half horse—you really don’t wanna get on either of his bad sides.

[Centarumon has a Black Gear caught in his back.]

Afton: Huh, ah!!

Tentomon: Run Afton, run!

[They run and CENTARUMON chases.]

Centarumon: I like a good chase.

Ben: Left! Take a left!

Tentomon: Ben, we are quite anxiously awaiting your directions, are you there?

[In the main room.]

Ben: Another left, through the doorway!

[They run.]

Tentomon: This way Afton!

[They run into it and see it’s a dead end.]

Afton: Huh! Great job Ben, it’s a dead end!

Tentomon: Where do we go now, Ben? Ben? Hello?

[In the main room, BEN and PALMON are gone, leaving his laptop and earpiece there.]

[In the dead end room.]

Tentomon: We seemed to have lost contact with him.

[CENTARUMON runs closer.]

Centarumon: Oh really.

Tentomon: He’s back!

[CENTARUMON holds out his arm and from his palm four knives come out and make energy.]

Centarumon: Solar Ray!

[TENTOMON pushes AFTON down.]

Centarumon: Fire!

[The attack busts through the wall.]

Afton: Look at my skirt!

Tentomon: Forget that now, get out of the way!

[They run to the other wall and CENTARUMON jumps in the room.]

Afton: Ah!

Centarumon: Your bravery is noted, but that alone will not gain you any mercy.

Afton: What are you waiting for? Make yourself bigger.

Tentomon: If you mean you want me to Digivolve, I’m afraid that’s impossible.

Afton: What do you mean, impossible?

Centarumon: I’ll show you what it means, he cannot protect you, so you have to hold your ground and that’s truly impossible.

Afton: Stop talking and get growin’!

Tentomon: Oh how I’d like to, but if I’m separated from Ben I can’t.

Afton: Ah!

[The ground starts to shake.]

Afton: Stop that! Can’t you see I’m in the middle of saying something?

[They see CENTARUMON isn’t shaking the ground.]

Tentomon: What’s that racket?

They see the wall behind them is being broken through by Ben and Palmon.

Afton: Ben!

Ben: Get out of there! Hurry! Come on!

Afton: You don’t have to tell me twice!

[She starts to run out then CENTARUMON holds up his shooter.]

Palmon: Watch out Afton!

[PALMON moves in.]

Palmon: Palmon Digivolve to…

Togemon: Togemon!

[She moves in front of CENTARUMON.]

Togemon: Leave my friends alone!

Ben: Afton, get back!

Tentomon: Leave this to me!

[TENTOMON flies in.]

Tentomon: Tentomon, Digivolve to…

Kabuterimon: Kabuterimon!

[KABUTERIMON is so big he reaches the roof and AFTON is pressed against the wall.]

Afton: Oh! I forgot, when you get bigger you get a lot bigger, don’t you. Watch where you step.

Kabuterimon: Oh, uh sorry.

[BEN is pressed against the wall by TOGEMON and he has needles right next to his face and stomach.]

Ben: Uh!

[CENTARUMON fires at them and they’re all sent out of the room.]

Afton: That’s one way to get out of there.

Ben: Yeah, but this is no time for us to start taking it easy.

[CENTARUMON steps out.]

Ben: Look, he’s here.

Afton: Yeah, I see him.

Kabuterimon: Leave them alone!

[CENTARUMON shoots at them again.]

Kabuterimon: Electro Shocker!

Togemon: Needle Spray!

[The attacks break and CENTARUMON’s Black Gear is sent flying out of him and is destroyed.]

Centarumon: That felt interesting.

[He collapses.]

Ben: One of those Black Gears fell out of his body.

[CENTARUMON lifts his head and shoulders up.]

Centarumon: Where am I?

Afton: Are you a good Digimon now?

Centarumon: Hm? What? That device on your bag.

[AFTON looks at the Digivice.]

Afton: This?

Centarumon: I’ve seen it before.

[In a room of the maze, a Digivice insignia is on the wall.]

Centarumon: It is the mystical symbol of the Digivice. These ruins are its temple and I am its guardian.

[BEN and AFTON take out their Digivices and look at them.]

Ben: Well that certainly looks familiar.

Centarumon: The Digivice is a preserver of the light, the last line of defense against the darkness that threatens existence.

Ben: Really?

Afton: I didn’t get that, but I’m starting to think they’re more than just a cool accessory.

[Behind them, LEOMON steps in.]

Centarumon: Leomon, why are you here?

[The kids turn.]

Leomon: To destroy them, the children.

Ben: Huh?

Afton: What?

Leomon: I warn you Centarumon, do not interfere with me.

[LEOMON jumps forward to the kids.]

Centarumon: No Leomon.

[LEOMON punches.]

Afton: Ah! I can’t look it’s so scary!

[She covers her face.]

Afton: Well maybe a peek.

[She moves her fingers. CENTARUMON caught the blow, and CENTARUMON and LEOMON stay in that position.]

Ben: Whoa, time’s standing still here.

Centarumon: I said no, Leomon, the children possess the Digivice. As the guardian of its temple I must protect them as well.

Leomon: Protect them from me? Good luck.

[He prepares his fist.]

Leomon: Fist of the Beast King!

[CENTARUMON jumps out of the way and LEOMON punches the wall.]

Centarumon: Solar Ray!

[The ray sends LEOMON into the wall.]

Centarumon: Now let’s stop this madness before one of us is hurt. Leomon?

[LEOMON throws a fire fist at CENTARUMON throwing him into the wall.]

Leomon: The children must be…destroyed.

All: Uh…

Afton: No!

[AFTON puts her bag in front of her face in defense, and the Digivice’s screen glows.]

Afton: You must mean some other children!

[It stops LEOMON.]

Ben: Your Digivice, it stopped him in his tracks.

[BEN points his Digivice at LEOMON and AFTON does as well.]

Afton: Bad kitty! Out! Go on, out!

[The light sends LEOMON running away.]

Afton: Well that got rid of him. These things really are kind of amazing.

Ben looks at his.

Ben: A preserver of light against the darkness.

Afton: Can you order a pizza with it? I’m still starving.

[Back in the main room.]

Ben: Centarumon, do you know how to stop the Black Gear?

Centarumon: No, I’m afraid I have neither the strength nor the knowledge to oppose Devimon and the powers of darkness.

Ben: Hm.

[BEN looks at the Gear.]

Afton: Are you still going on about that? When do we start looking for something to eat?

[BEN is on his laptop again.]

Ben: Guess I’ll just have to keep deciphering and analyzing these two sets of hieroglyphs. I’m sure all the answers are in here somewhere.

Afton: Excuse me isn’t this where I came in? You’re not seriously starting all that again, not right now.

Ben: Just a Nano.

Afton: This Black Gear.

[AFTON walks over to it.]

Afton: Who cares about that dumb, old thing? All I want is lunch!

[She kicks it and it stops then reverses.]

Afton and Palmon: Huh?

Ben: Wha?

[Outside the island they’re on is moving back to File Island while the other keeps going. BEN, AFTON, and their DIGIMON run outside.]

Ben: Look, the process has reversed itself.

Palmon: Amazing.

Ben: Excellent work Afton, it just goes to show you that sometimes the simplest solution is actually the best.

Afton: That’s not much of a compliment.

[On the other island SUKAMON and CHUUMON are there.]

Sukamon: Hiya! I knew you couldn’t keep away.

Afton and Palmon: Uh!

Ben: Huh?

[SUKAMON is hopping up and down to stay in their view.]

Sukamon: So, we gonna go on a date or what? Come on, what’s your phone number?

Afton: Man he is persistent.

Sukamon: At least blow us a kiss!

Afton and Palmon: Okay!

[AFTON and PALMON pull their lower eye lid down and stick their tongues at them.]

Sukamon: Aw come on! Do it like ya mean it! Ya know you like us, ya know you do! Please!

Chapter 11: The Dancing Digimon