**Corasca**

   
    I floated in mid air, held my hand-magnet's On/Off switch ready, waiting
for the ball to come back into play.  Kaphoosh!  A small ball shot from an
air cannon.  Nearly every player except the Keepers lunged at the ball.  It
was a jumble of yellow and red uniforms.  Protective gear stopped me from
being crushed into the wall as a beefy guy hit me head on.  I shook off the
dizziness of sudden changes in direction, and leaped from the wall, into the
offensive zone.  Everyone was grunting and shouting war cries.  (It was more
or less, war out there)  I waited for someone to pass me the ball, but the
other team, was like a brick wall.  I drifted left and right, waiting for an
opening… YES!  One of my teamates, ball sticking to his hand-magnet saw me
through the mass of players, and threw the ball in my direction by turning
off the magnet in the middle of his throw.  With a steady arm, I turned on my
hand magnet, ready to catch it, then everything tuned upside down.  A
millisecond later, I felt a sharp pain in my shoulder.  It felt as though
it'd popped out  The biggest player on the other team had rammed me. 
    A whistle blue, and the ref, clad in black in white striped armor, raised
his hands.  "Intentional ramming on #41.  Penalty shot."  The ref retrieved
the loose ball, and placed it on my hand-magnet.  Everyone cleared out to
make a straight, clean shot into the goal.  Only the Keeper stood in my way. 
I glared at him, putting on my best 'I'm not afraid of you' look.  The
whistle blew.  I worked my arm, felt the joint pop back in and hurled the
ball with more strength than a normal 14-year-old girl had. 
    But I wasn't any normal 14-year-old girl  My name is Corasca.  I have
tomboy written all over my face.  I play so called 'guy sports' like
Anti-Grav Magnet Ball.  I don't play around with my hair for hours (just wash
it, and get it cut shoulder length every month.)  I'm also very tall for my
age, 5`8.  A lot of guys are often staring at me and running off.  I have a
short temper, and this often leads to fights (which I win.) I've gotton a lot
of notes home from the principal. 
    I live in a space station orbiting around Mars.  It's kind of neat to
live in space, floating about freely.  It's not all fun though.  I have to
exercise a lot to keep my heart from slacking off. 
    Back to reality.  The ball went flying at him.  He leaned to the left,
then to the right, not knowing which direction the ball would come flying at
him.  He made up his mind too late. The Keeper leaped right, but his
arm-magnet fell short.  The ball whizzed pat him, and into circle goal.  A
buzzer rang.  Goal! The crowd outside of the sphere cheered loud enough to be
heard through the clear plastic walls. 
    "Nice shot Corasca."  A passing teamate said, giving me a playful slap on
the back.
    "Thanks.  More where that came from." I replied, flashing him a thumb up 
     
Twenty minuets later, I was sweaty, bruised, and tired, but we had won.  The
Game Over horn shrieked, ending the game in a 4-1 win.  Everyone on my team
threw up their hands, giving good natured arm-slaps and noogies. The opposing
team hung their heads low as they lined up for the traditional good-game-high
fives.  I slowly floated out of the game area, using grip-bars.  The coach
congratulated me, along with a few other team members, and I drifted out. 
    22-6B, my apartment.  I floated to the Refresher area.  "Computer, start
up Heat Bath."  The door slid open and I started to remove my shoulder pads,
when something drifted by me.  Something blue and square.  I craned my neck. 
Looks like some sort of welding tool my Dad uses.  Must've gotten loose.   I
grabbed the tool, and turned to Dad's work room, when everything flashed
white.


**Owen**


    Within the cockpit, I was moist with sweat.  Piloting a Zues heavy bomber
through the endless plains of what's lrft of America, I kept an eye on the
3-D radar.  Not a single blip for 10 miles.  Keeping my throttle low to
reserve fuel, I leaned back in my seat.  Waiting for anything to happen.  I
stared in the rear-veiw video cameras.  Grass.  Wait, the air seemed to…
wiggle… for a second, then nothing. Something's not right here.  I did a wide
180, and focused all the sensor power to in front of me.  Ah ha!  Phantom
Stealth ships!  Should've known!  I powered up a heavy laser.  The Phantom
Stealth ship didn't bother to hide anymore, he knew I saw him.  The pilot
killed his forward throttle, then hit the reverse thrusters, keeping me in
his sights.   I flipped open the lid that covered the trigger.  Lined up the
brackets with the ship…  too slow!  As penalty for taking too long to aim, I
got a windshield full of laser-fire.  I shoved all shield power frontwards to
avoid getting my cockpit blasted open.   No choice but too pull off.  I
shoved the stick forward, going into a steep dive.  This guys good.  I
thought to myself.  The pilot had throttled forward again, and was close on
my tail.  He was sticking too me like an electromagnet.  This'll throw him
off.  I grinned.  Keeping my hand on the throttle, I jerked the stick towards
me, filling my veiw with a gray cloud.  Then I pulled the speed control
backwards for all it was worth, coming to a dead stop.  The Phantom Stealth
shot by at Mach 2.  I started to fall into a slow flip.  I saw the ground for
a second, back to the sky and my victim.  In one fluid movement, I re-armed
the lasers, then shot three pairs of lasers slightly ahead of target.  Yes! 
The Phantom flew right into my line of fire.  Phantoms devoted a lot of
energy into their stealth technology, not shields.  One pair made a gaping
hole in the shield.  The scond hit belly of the, sending debris flying, and
the third hit the pilot itself.  The Phantom Stealth blew up in a spectacular
display of fire and light.
    The cockpit interoir went dark, then popped open.  "Sweet kill Owen!" 
Garen said, rubbing my dark uncombed and messy hair.  "I didn't think anyone
could pull off a Dead Stop at such low altitude!"
    "Well, I was only about 20 feet from the ground before the simulator gave
me the officail win." 
    "But still!  Even I can't take on Phantos!"  Pilot slang for Phantom
Stealth ships. 
    I jumped out of the cockpit, and headed to the Guys room.  "I gotta take
a piss.  Get a hover bus ticket to home for me, all right?  3 hours in this
dump is enough to implode my eyeballs.."  I walked into the guys room,
relived myself of what I'd been holding in for the past hour, then splashed
some water on my face in front of the sink. 
    My name is Owen.  I'm a top notch pilot and I just turned 15.  I've
always loved to fly, to soar over the flat Ohio plains.  My dad gave me my
very own plane, and I've been flying it day and night.  It isn't all I do
though.  I get pretty good grades in High School, and I can beat my Dad in
arm wrestling.  A lot of people think I'm perfect at everything.  (I would be
if I had a girlfriend)  Gets hard sometimes. 
    I washed up, and turned to the dryer, then stopped dead in my tracks.  A
small blue object lay on the dryer.  The hell is that?  I picked it and
examined it.  What's this?  Some sort of electronic map?   I was dead wrong. 
The screen started to flash white, then everything flashed white.            
      


**Lorane**


    I slowly opened my eyes.  How long've I been asleep?   I sat up and shook
my head, blonde hair smacking into my face.  I'd been at the store, shoppng
for food for dinner, when I saw a blue thing resting on the shelf.  Next
thing I knew I was here.  Wherever here is.   Everything came into focus
again.  I was in a forest, on dry land.  I looked down.  Woah!  These weren't
my regualar cloths!  I was wearing a tight red tank, black shorts, and
mountain climbing style boots.  What year are these from?  I stood up and
looked around.  Trees, grass, more tress, some rocks.  This was the forest. 
But I wasn't alone. 
    Standing in front of me, was a creature resembling a tiger, but the size
of a cat, snow white, and a tail twice the size of it's body.  "Lorane! 
You're here!  Finally!" 
    I immediately shot up "Wha?  Who're you?"
    The tiger giggled.  "I'm Tygromon.  Your new friend and lifetime partner!"
    "Uh…"  I didn't know where to start.
    "C'mon everyone else is waiting!"  Tygromon happily turned away, and ran
off.
    "Hey!  Wait up!"  I shouted.  A minuet later, I skidded to a stop.  6
other kids turned to face me. 
    "Another one?"  White Tee said.
    "Geez, how many other people are here?"  Leather Jacket said.
    "Could someone PLEASE tell me what the hell is going on, and why I have
this thing following me?"  I asked, then looked down.  More creatures.  I
looked back up, saw a face among others.  "Russle!"  I ran forward, to my
little brother, and sign-languaged a greeting.
    The other kids exchanged confused looks. 
    As though things weren't weird enough, out of nowhere, a projection shot
down from the heavens.  "Ah, so this is the new group.  Welcome my young
friends."  A man looking as though he was well in the triple digits age-wise
looked down the line of teens. 
    "Who're you? Are you the guy that brought us here?"  Green Vest asked. 
    "You can call me Genai.  I wasn't the one that picked you to save our
world, I just brought you into it."
    Russle made a string of signs wih his hands.  "Yes, OUR world.  This is
the Digital World. You're not on Earth or Mars or the Moon anymore. 
    "I live in outer space."  Green Vest spoke up.
    "Whatever.  Anyway, I hope you like your new wardrobe." 
    "What century do these come from?"  Austrailian accent said.
    "Oh nevermind.  Have you all gotten your Digimon?" 
    "You meen these?"  I asked, pointing to Tygromon. 
    "Yes.  Everyone's got one."
    "So what possible use do we have for these… Digimon?" Messy Hair asked,
watching something like an alligator that walked on two feet. 
    "You use them to defeat Keperoithmon."  The old man said as though it was
the most obvious thing in the world.  Genai was replaced with a rather nastly
looking Digimon.  "This is him.  And he is causing the Digi-World much grief."
    Russle made a few hand motions. 
    "Yes, he is tough.  But I'm sure you can beat him with your Digimon." 
The image flashed back to Genai again.   
    "Uh, no offense to our new partners, but they don't look like they'd
stand a chance."
    "Well, not at this level.  But once we Digivolve, we get stronger!"  The
Digimon standing next to Russle said.  Looked something like a brown
chameleon with extra hard scales.    
    "Digi… volve?  Don't think that's in any dictionary."  Austrailian accent
said, tilting his head to one side.
    "Yes.  And you need to use the Digivices in order to make Digivolve to
Champion."
    "You mean."  Messy Hair took out the same thing that I found in the
store.  "These?" 
    Genai's picture became filled with static for a moment, then back.  "Yes.
 I'm afraid my time is low.  I've installed a new feature in the Digivices. 
Just point the front at a Digimon or anything else in this world, and you'll
get a full explanation of it."  The projection fizzled again.  "I must go
now.  Or Keperoithmon will discover my location!"  The projection burst into
static for a few seconds, then  disappeared entirely. 
    There was a long moment of silence.  "Well, if we're about to save the
world, we might as well introduce ourselves."  Messy Hair said.  "I'm Owen. 
Turned 15 last week.  I was hanging out in the virtual arcade, went to the
bathroom, and saw this thing on the dryer."  He pulled out the same exact
thing as I had.  Blue, square, and blank screen.
    Austrailian accent went next.  "I'm Milo, an Aussie kid.  13 years old as
of last month.  I like to hover- bike through the Great Red Plains of Mars. 
Found this little gadget lying on a rock."
    Green Vest went next.  "My name's Corasca.  I'm 14, and I play Anti-Grav
Magnet-Ball."
    "They allow girls in the AGMB?"  Owen was immediately met with a glare
rivaling the paralyzing factor of a snake ready to strike.  "OK, OK!  Sorry!"
    Gloves spoke up  "Amber, 13, Moon."  She obviously wasn't mush of a
talker.
    My turn.  "My name is Lorane.  I'm his brother."  I motioned to Russle. 
We live under the ocean.  Our parents are in the G.A.N, so I take care of him.
    Russle blushed slightly, then made some hand signs.  I knew what he was
saying, but his brown chameleon Digimon spoke up first.  "His name's Russle,
he's 12, and he enjoy's Reefing.  What's Reefing?"  Russle made a few more
motions with his hands.  "Woah!  Cool!  You have to show me how to do it some
time!"
    Everybody laid eyes on Leather Jacket.  "You wouldn't want to hear my
story."
    "Well, just tell us your name and age."  Milo said.
    "Raymond.  14." 
    "Hey!"  Tygromon spoke up.  "Don't forget us!"
     "OK."  I said, poitning the Digivice at Tyrgromon.  A picture of the
little Digimon appeared on screen, followed by a string of information.  In a
monotone voice, the Digivice said, "Tygromon.  A fun living snow leopard
Digimon who uses the attack Ice Mist to freeze enemies in their tracks."
    Everyone else proceeded to get infromation about their Digimon.  I heard,
"Jerramon, a Bat Digimon of the Data type.  His attack, Sleep Bite, induces
sleep in the enemy, allowing for a hasty retreat."  from Ray's Digivice.
    From Corasca's, "Belamon, a Pony Digimon.  She is the fastest Rookie
Digimon, and uses Ghostly Tackle to crush foes in a."
    Milo's,  "Daroogamon.  A Kangaroo Digimon who can quickly hop away from
bigger enemies, and Electra-Jolt smaller ones."
    Amber's, "Hinomon.  A Vaccine Digimon with mental powers.  Uses the
attack Confusion Beam to stun opponents. 
    Russle's, "Reptimon.  This Lizard Digimon is classified as Data, and uses
Rock Scales to pummel enemies into submission.
    And finally, Owen's.  "Crocomon.  A crocodile Digimon that has sharp
fangs and claws.  His attack is Water Fang, and is known for being a loyal
friend."    Owen put his Digivice in a pocket.  "Tell you what, these things
are certainly a fountain of information."
    "I have to say, these little guys are pretty cool."  Corasca said,
rubbing Belamon's head. 
    "Cool is an understatement."  Milo kneeled to get a good look at his
Digimon.  "So whadda we do now?"  Milo got his answer immidiatly.  What had
been ablack dot in the diastance was now taking form.  "Ay, what's that?"  He
asked, poiting to the ever growing form. 
    Owen shrugged.  "This place is full of weird crap.  Could be a plane, a
bird…"
    "Uh-oh."  Crocomon said, taking a step back.  "That looks big enough to
be…  Keproithimon!"
    "That's him?!"  Corasca asked, mouth gaping.  "He didn't look very big in
the holograph!"   
    "No, that's his Flagship, the Dragon's Flame!  It's got a really powerful
laser gun that can destroy any Digimon in one blast!"
    "And I think he's spotted us!"  Raymond shouted, turning to run. 
Apparently, everyone else had the same idea as Ray, including me.  I grabbed
Russle by the arm, and pulled him along.  In an underwater complex, you
tended to swim a lot, and when you swim as much as I do, your legs get beefy.
 Me and Russle were quickly leading the pack. 
    Milo was falling behind badly.  "Ay mates!  Where are we running to? 
Keproithmon's ship is comin` up pretty fast!" 
    As if to agree with Milo, the ship began to shoot lasers.  Trees burst
into flames around us.  Waves of heat hit me head on.  Hundreds of tiny
Digimon scampered away as their homes burnt down
    "Milo's right.  We have to split up!"  But before we could, the ground
opened up below us.  "AUGH!"
    AUGH!  Five other voices agreed with me.  Down into the bottemless depths.