Let's reach 250 Power Stones for an extra chapter
***
I was slumped on the couch, flipping through channels on the old TV, trying to kill some time before I had to figure out my next move. Gatomon and BlackGatomon were curled up on either side of me, though BGM was mostly just batting at the remote. Suddenly, the news anchor's voice cut through the quiet morning drone. I leaned forward, grabbing the remote back from BGM, and turned up the volume. The screen showed shaky phone footage of a silver-clad figure with bright pink hair, bracing a delivery truck mere inches from a school bus. The anchor announced they were calling her Jewel, a new superheroine who had saved dozens of lives that morning.
"Whoa, another one?" I mumbled, a grin stretching across my face.
"She looks like she could use some actual combat training, though," BlackGatomon commented, her crimson eyes narrowed at the screen. "That landing was pretty sloppy."
Gatomon rolled her eyes. "She just saved a bunch of people, BlackGatomon. Give her a break."
"Still, she looks like she's got some serious power," I mused. "That truck was huge."
"Pink hair, though?" BlackGatomon scoffed. "Seriously? What kind of hero picks pink hair?"
"Maybe it's a fashion statement," Gatomon suggested dryly.
"Or maybe she just likes pink, you know," I added, shrugging. "Either way, she's definitely got the strength."
I leaned back, watching the footage replay. Jewel, huh? This city was getting crowded with powered people, and not just the Digimon kind. It was exciting, sure, but also a bit of a headache. I was just getting used to being the resident weirdo with super-powered cats. Now there was a pink-haired powerhouse too. It certainly kept things interesting.
I sat back, letting out a low whistle.
"She is fast and strong," Gatomon commented, her claws kneading the couch cushion.
"That outfit is flashy, but she might be alright if she can back it up," BlackGatomon snorted, flicking her tail. "At least she adds some variety to the local scene."
I rubbed my chin, thinking. Jewel. The name rang zero bells for me. I had never heard of her, but it did not matter. If she was helping people, that was one less thing for us to worry about. New heroes were a good thing in this crazy world.
"I am going to order some pizza," I said.
Just as I was about to reach for my phone, a sharp knock rattled the apartment door.
"Act like normal cats, guys," I told the Digimon.
Gatomon immediately curled into a perfect loaf, purring softly. BlackGatomon rolled her eyes, but she settled into a more relaxed sprawl, looking convincingly feline. I opened the door to find Olivia standing there, a warm smile on her face. She held a plate of cookies in one hand and a suspicious-looking canister in the other.
"Ethan, I thought I would drop by," Olivia said, her smile widening. "I have some fresh cookies, and of course, my special blend."
"Olivia, hey," I said, trying to sound casual. "What a surprise."
"I was just thinking about you and Jessica," Olivia said, her eyes sparkling. "How is she doing?"
"She is doing much better, actually," I replied. "She seems to be settling in well at your place."
"That is wonderful to hear," Olivia said. "She is such a sweet girl. I just know she is going to thrive."
"I am glad you think so," I said, trying to gauge her mood. She looked a little too cheerful, which usually meant trouble for me.
"Are you going to invite me in, or are we going to have this conversation in the hallway?" Olivia asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Right, sorry," I said, stepping aside. "Come on in."
Olivia walked past me, her gaze sweeping over the apartment. Gatomon and BlackGatomon were still in their 'normal cat' poses, though BlackGatomon twitched an ear in irritation.
"Such lovely cats," Olivia observed, bending down to pet Gatomon. "They are so well-behaved."
Gatomon leaned into the touch, purring louder. BlackGatomon merely blinked, maintaining her aloof demeanor.
"They have their moments," I mumbled, wondering how long they could keep up the act.
"I just wanted to check in," Olivia said, straightening up. "And deliver these treats. You both looked like you needed a little pick-me-up."
She held out the plate of cookies. I took one, a faint waft of something vaguely spicy hitting my nose. Her cookies were usually safe, unlike her coffee.
"Thanks, Olivia," I said. "That is really thoughtful."
"Of course," she replied. "Now, about that special blend..."
She gestured with the canister, a glint in her eye. I knew what was coming. I had to brace myself.
My stomach turned just thinking about it.
"You are a lifesaver, Olivia," I said, quickly grabbing a cookie and taking a bite. "These are amazing, as always."
"I am so glad you like them," Olivia replied, her smile radiant.
"I would love to take the coffee," I explained, making sure to avoid eye contact with the menacing canister. "But I am actually trying to cut back on caffeine. Doctor's orders, you know how it is."
Olivia set the canister down on the table, a slight look of disappointment on her face, but she let it go. Her gaze drifted back to the TV, where the footage of Jewel was still looping. She noticed Gatomon and BlackGatomon on the couch, still maintaining their "normal cat" charade. She reached out a hand to Gatomon, who leaned into her touch instantly, her purr revving up like a tiny engine. BlackGatomon was more aloof, but when Olivia scratched behind her ears, her leg started thumping against the couch in an involuntary show of pleasure.
"Who is this new heroine?" Olivia asked, her voice filled with genuine curiosity. "I have not seen her around before."
"Oh, she is new," I replied, trying to sound casual. "Just popped up today, actually. Seems like a good one, though."
"It is nice to see people stepping up," Olivia remarked, nodding thoughtfully. "This city certainly needs more of that."
She then turned to me, her expression shifting to something more business-like. "How did your trip to Stark Industries go, by the way?"
"It went really well, actually," I explained, feeling a surge of excitement. "Tony is definitely interested in the EDEN project. The thing is, the tech to build it doesn't quite exist yet. So, we will have to invent the infrastructure from scratch."
"Inventing from scratch sounds both expensive and complicated," Olivia mused, a knowing look in her black eyes. "What exactly is EDEN supposed to be?"
I leaned forward, getting a little too excited. "It is going to be a virtual reality network, Olivia. Imagine stepping into the internet, not just looking at it on a screen. People can live, work, shop, and just hang out in a digital overlay of the real world."
Olivia's eyes lit up with an investor's gleam, the kind I had only seen when she talked about her stock portfolio. "A digital overlay of the real world," she repeated slowly, a thoughtful expression on her face. "That is quite ambitious, Ethan."
"It is, right?" I grinned. "But think about the possibilities. The data, the immersive experiences… it will be revolutionary."
"It certainly sounds like it," she said, tapping a finger on her chin. "You know, I might be able to help you with that."
"Really?" I asked, my eyebrows shooting up. "How?"
"I know a few research labs," she said, her smile returning. "Some cutting-edge facilities with brilliant minds. They might be able to help you build the hardware you need for this… EDEN project."
A research lab? My mind raced, thinking of the possibilities. This was huge. Tony had the capital and the name, but a dedicated lab could accelerate the development exponentially.
"Are you serious?" I asked, barely containing my excitement. "You would do that?"
"Of course," Olivia replied, her tone warm. "I believe in investing in good ideas, Ethan. And this sounds like a very good idea. Would you like to see one of them?"
"Absolutely!" I exclaimed, jumping up from the couch. "That would be incredible!"
"Excellent," Olivia said, standing up. "I will make some calls and schedule a meeting for you. Let me know what days work best next week."
"Any day works!" I practically shouted, already mentally clearing my schedule. "Thank you, Olivia, this is… this is amazing!"
"Just doing my part to help a promising young entrepreneur," she said with a wink. "And making sure my investment in you pays off, of course."
She glanced at the Digimon, who were still doing their best cat impressions. BlackGatomon let out a tiny, suppressed yawn.
"Well, I should be going," Olivia said. "I have a few more calls to make."
"Thanks again, Olivia," I said, walking her to the door. "For everything."
"Anytime, Ethan," she said, giving me a quick, motherly pat on the arm. "Just try to stay out of trouble until then, okay?"
"No promises," I joked,
***
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