Hikari Soul
"Viral Destruction!" The cannon glowed a hot purple as the power built up inside it, Alex could see screaming, tortured faces in the viral plasma charging within the cannon.
Then it fired.
The purple bolt flew at Alex, who closed his eyes, preparing himself, the bolt impacted with the armoured teen, the plasma washing over him and consuming him in agonizing purple fire, Alex screamed, and exploded into data.
The data swirled around briefly before fading away into the snow.
The tamers stared, transfixed in horror…Alex had been deleted…destroyed…killed. The viral demon turned to them and began to laugh, a cold, cruel laugh at the fate of their friend, his data snatched by the wind and spread away, unable to be absorbed or caught in a crystal chip. The Mega's wings spread out again, unsteadily taking him up into the air as the 7 D-Arcs all bleeped simultaneously and they were sucked into a dark gateway, appearing at Alex's apartment.
They looked out of the window to see the sky turn blood red and the black figure of Viramon floated there, arms spread, ushering in the corrupting storm.
The D-arcs bleeped again, a holographic head appearing in a similar way to their digimon scanner.
It was Alex.
"If you guys are hearing this message then one of two things has happened, 1) I have forgotten to deactivate this timer, if so, just tell me and I'll fix it. 2) I went in over my head and Viramon destroyed me." The head told them, Alex's expression sad,
"I'm guessing it's the second option…so here is what you have to do, on the table are gateway chip-cards, use them to fetch your families, this whole building is shielded from Viramon's corrupting influence. All I can really suggest is to wait it out, I don't think you can get to my world in any way but the portals, and the big portal isn't there"
"I'm sorry guys, I should have told you beforehand, but I thought it was something I had to do…Goodbye, I won't be seeing any of you again…"
The head warped and faded, leaving them in just an empty room.
All of the tamers took the gate cards, saving their parents and siblings from the hordes of Yamimon stalking the streets, taking them back to the apartment.
"Well…what are we meant to do now?" said Rumiko, Rika's mom, "Just sit here whilst the world is taken over? Shouldn't you be out fighting that?" she asked, turning to Takato and co.
"Somehow I don't think this is something they can fight," said Mr Wong,
"Yeah, unless you want us to become freaky virus things" added Terriermon
Rika clenched a fist, she wanted to take them all on at once, single-handed, but felt a hand on her shoulder.
She turned round and looked into Takato's crimson eyes, he shook his head, he knew what she was thinking, and he didn't want her to even try.
"This whole building is safe, so I suggest we all find apartments and rest for a bit, then we can decide what to do," said Takato, taking control of the situation, mainly to stop any squabbling before it began, he had a feeling they'd be in here for a while.
The master key was hanging on the back of Alex's door, and Takato took it, going with Guilmon to unlock the other apartments.
"What's wrong Takatomon?" the childlike digimon asked, his head tilting to one side,
"Nothing really boy," he replied, "I just wish we could do something…anything to help, but we can't, all we can do is sit here and wait"
"Don't worry Takatomon, I'm sure you'll figure something out" His constant companion said,
"Yeah Takatomon, You lead us, and we'll follow" came a girl's voice from behind the two, Takato turned around to see Rika standing there, her hands in her pockets,
"I am not a Mon," he said, smiling at Rika, "you OK?"
Rika smirked, "yeah, just trying to get away from my mother, she's trying to use our waiting time to attempt to get me into a skirt"
Takato laughed, he somehow doubted that that day would ever come, Rika would probably wear jeans to her wedding…Takato blushed as he pulled himself away from that train of thought,
"Found any good apartments then Gogglehead?" Rika asked,
Takato stood there and pretended to be an estate agent, pointing out different things about the many rooms he'd unlocked, Rika's smirk growing slightly into a smile.
000
He was drifting in a sea of pure white, his body weightless, his mind drifting.
He felt ground beneath him as he landed softly and laid there, his eyes closed and his breathing deep.
He heard a voice, a clear, commanding voice pierce the fog of his mind,
"So…you failed, like you suspected you would. But no matter, you are here now, and the choice now lays before you"
His eyes opened to see only white around him,
"The…choice…?"
"To stay here, or to return"