DR: Whoa, I got a lot of reviews!
Terriermon: Seventeen? Gee, easily satisfied, aren't we?
DR: And you had to ruin it all…
Terriermon: Anyway, where are Rika and Takato?
DR: I'm not gonna answer that question. *grins*
Terriermon: What do you mean with…oh…I see…*grins too*
DR: By the way, I don't own Digimon, even if this chapter introduces a Digimon I invented.
Terriermon: When I thought he had used his entire brain inventing the Omnivice…
DR: Hey! What's that supposed to mean!? You should be thankful there's a lot of Takato and Terriermon bonding here…
OMNITAMER!
Chapter 4
Light-Speed Fighter
Terriermon's bad mood could be easily explained. First, he had been denied to beat the crap out of SkullGreymon and to make things worse, since their unnecessary escape (or at least that's what he thought), Takato had been fidgeting with the Omnivice without resting at all. Lopmon, however, seemed to be patient enough to wait silently as they walked through the dry and deserted area they were; but Terriermon wasn't Lopmon, and he was gonna do something to change the way things were getting. He began by doing something he had done thousands of times with Henry: he jumped on his head, and looked at the Omnivice with exaggerated attention. In that moment, it displayed something that, much to the rookie's surprise, resembled a map of the area they were.
"What's that, Takato?" Terriermon asked, slightly curious to know if his supposition was correct.
"Cool, huh?" Takato finally spoke, showing the Digimon a big grin. "I taught the Omnivice how to scan the area not just for Digimon. Now we got a map."
"Wait a minute! You taught it!?" Terriermon asked loudly, enough to catch Lopmon's attention.
"Yep! I realized this gadget follows every one of my orders, even if it hasn't been programmed for it. Impressive, huh?"
"Yeah, especially considering that it's actually more intelligent that it's owner."
"Hey!"
As stopping wasn't an option, the human and the two Digimon followed the same direction they had been following for the last two hours: away. However, only two beings walked now, as Terriermon didn't bother to jump off Takato's head.
"You know, Terrier? I'm not Henry."
"Oh, come on! Your head is comfy, and with Henry I don't have anything to hold onto." Terriermon replied as he pulled Takato's goggles.
"Hey, hey! Don't touch the goggles!!"
"Gee, okay…" Terriermon said as he finally jumped back to the ground. "He sure is a moody Tamer, isn't he, Lopmon?"
Lopmon never replied.
"Lopmon, what's wrong with…aaahhhhh!!!!!" Terriermon exclaimed when he noticed the same light pillar that trapped Lopmon seconds earlier!
"Terriermon, what…ahhh!!!!" Takato shouted along, as both human and Digimon were caught in the pillar, to a destination still unknown.
***** Henry's House! *****
Henry had given up a long time ago. Establishing communication with Takato was completely impossible, so Henry didn't waste anymore time in futile attempts. However, that didn't help calm his ever-growing preoccupation. Even if Takato had been away just for less that 24 hours, his mind kept telling him that his best friend was in danger. The thing was, there was absolutely nothing he could do about it. And that was the main reason Henry couldn't focus in anything. He had tried computer games, reading a book and listening to the radio, but his thoughts always drifted to the goggle-headed Tamer and his whereabouts. Nobody could blame him, and he wasn't afraid to admit it: he was worried sick about Takato. But he was as worried about him that he was about his friend. Now he was stuck in the middle of a dilemma. Time would pass, Takato wouldn't return, and he'd be forced to deal with Takato's parents. What would he tell them? But, at the same time his mind tried to think of a nice way to get out of that problem, Henry also ignored a very chaotic variable in the big equation of his life. A variable that could eventually become his downfall. A variable named…Rika Nonaka.
Yes, Rika. The Digimon Queen herself was about to intrude in Henry and Takato's plan, and they had no idea of it. But, why Rika, anyway? Much for Takato's bad luck, Rika had chosen that very same day to think of him, and may I remind you that Rika doesn't think much about anyone in particular. But if there's someone to blame for Takato's…intromission in Rika's life, that's Takato himself. The Gogglehead had spent way too much time with our favorite female Tamer during that summer, and now they both had acquired this certain…dependence on each other, much like a symbiosis (something that Rika will NEVER admit, but it's true!). Takato makes Rika's days enjoyable, and Takato, well…he was pleased by Rika's mere presence.
But we'll discuss Rika and Takato's social life more than enough later, so why don't we return to our other friend, Henry Wong?
Henry was in total disadvantage since the beginning. His worst weakness? He was alone. Takato had left to the Digiworld, and he was alone in the apartment. Don't ask me where the rest of his family is, because I don't know. Anyway, he was alone, that meant that Rika was able to do pretty much anything with him in the meantime. Simple interrogation, Spanish Inquisition-like torturing, you name it. Henry would have had a slightly better time if he had taken the caution of inviting someone to his house before Rika arrived, someone like Ryo, for example. But he didn't, and that would be fatal.
Anyway, Henry was resting on the couch when Rika arrived. Of course, it wasn't that simple. It's a scientific fact that there's a chain of events that can be easily be related to Rika's proximity, especially when she's in Cold-Blooded-Queen-of-Destruction mode. The sky gets dark and cloudy, with the never-absent lightning. Animals behave strangely (too bad Ms. Wong wouldn't let Suzie have pets). Henry would have noticed the black crows landing next to his window, if he hadn't been so distracted. And last but not least, the coldness. A freezing wind only compared to the breath of a swarm of IceDevimon. But Henry only noticed it when it was too late.
Rika knocked the door.
"Coming!" Henry shouted when he noticed the visitor's insistence. However, the "visitor" wouldn't stop knocking until the moment Henry opened the door.
"Hello, what can I do for…waahhhh!!!!!" Henry's cry had a very good reason. Rika Nonaka was standing in front of him, and even worse, she was smiling.
"Rika! What…what a…unexpected surprise! What…what are you doing here?" Henry said, unable to hide his surprise (and fear, to certain point).
"Good morning, Henry. May I come in?" Rika replied politely. Maybe…too politely.
"What!? Oh, yeah, sure! Come in, come in!" Henry answered. He would later regret it, but…what can I do? Anyway, Rika slowly and with a quiet, somehow feminine elegance walked gracefully inside the apartment, and guided herself to one of the chairs. Henry prudently returned to his place on the couch, almost as if he expected Rika to attack him in any moment. Finally, after a minute or two of uncomfortable silence, Rika spoke.
"I think you know the reason I'm here, brainiac." Rika started. Henry somehow found relieving the fact that Rika had returned to her "usual" self. He would later learn that there was actually one person who is actually "immune" to Rika's…esteem-threatening attitude.
"I wish I had any idea." That was Henry's reply. Rika let go a sigh, and Henry knew he had said the wrong answer. He looked for a new strategy.
"Hmm…want something to drink? I may have something…"
"Water will do, thanks." Rika replied, again way too politely to Henry's likes. However, he did as asked, and a minute later (even if Henry had wanted it to be more) he returned from the kitchen with two glasses full of water. Seriously, he needed some water for himself, too. Rika accepted the water with a simple smile, and drank half of it in record time. She placed the glass on the nearest table, and decided to go straight to the point.
"Where's Gogglehead?"
Crap!
Henry had just heard the question he feared. Even worse, he had heard it from Rika. Taking his time to gulp and wiping away the sweat, Henry carefully chose the next set of words.
"Hmm…excuse me?"
"I'll take it you didn't hear me. Where's Gogglehead?" Rika asked again, this time with a bigger emphasis in "where" and "Gogglehead".
"I…how should I know? What am I, his nanny?" Henry evaded the topic with the first thing he could think of. Bad idea. Rika drank the rest of the water, and looked at his colleague (or victim, whatever), revealing a smirk only compared to the Jeri they saw when they returned in Janyuu's ark. Pure evil.
"Henry, Henry, Henry…I'll act as if I hadn't heard that. Again, and I hope for the last time: where's Gogglehead?"
Henry knew he was lost. But if he was going to die, he would die as a fighter. He had to know as much as possible.
"What makes you think I know where he is?" He asked.
"Mostly the fact that his parents told me he was staying at your place. A sleepover of sorts, I think. Anyway, I'd like to see him now." Rika replied, with a tone of voice that made Henry think he would be safer surrounded by Dobermans. Henry gulped again. Great, just great…I told him it wouldn't work…although...we never considered Rika in our plan…of all the people who could have ruined it…yet still…I can't tell her…
*** Flashback from chapter 2! ***
"Henry, Henry, Henry…first, you didn't even show up the day of the competition, so you don't deserve any money. Second, we're talking of the perfect gift for Rika here. Nothing will make her happier that seeing Renamon again. And third, but not least, Rika would kill me if I gave her a bouquet of roses."
*** End of flashback… ***
"I'm sorry; Rika, but I can't tell you where he is." Henry said, in an act of bravery.
"Actually, Henry…I'm not ASKING you to tell me."
Henry gulped again. Man, I'm so screwed. I won't even get to see Jeri again… (A/N: Does that count as a Henry/Jeri hint? Because, well…) However, as Henry thought of possible ways Rika could kill him in that precise moment, a certain memory came back to him.
*** Flashback from chapter two, again! ***
"Geez, Rika, what's wrong with you?"
"That Goggle-headed idiot…he…he dumped me!"
*** End of flashback…***
"But, Rika, there's something I wonder…"
"And what could that possibly be?" Rika said ironically.
"What's all this fuss with you and Takato lately?" And that stopped Rika right on her tracks.
Ladies and gentlemen, in what could possible be the recovery move of the year, the ball is back on Henry's side, and the crowd goes insane! Waaahhhh!!!!!
Henry celebrated what seemed an absolute victory over the Digimon Queen, but, at the same time, Rika's brain completely lost control, and only her most basic instincts took over. Before Henry could do something about, Rika extended her arms and wrapped her hands around Henry's neck.
"Why you little…!? I'M GONNA KILL YOU!!!!!!!!"
As Rika's grip over Henry tightened, Henry tried to use his own arms to get rid of the angry woman, in a futile effort. Those martial arts classes didn't pay off that day…
"Ack! Rika…can't BREATHE!!!!!"
Finally, Rika's brain took control again, and the girl realized that killing Henry in his own apartment was a bad idea. She slowly let go of the boy, who immediately filled his lungs with precious oxygen. Then, Rika walked to the door, and made her way outside, not before saying some last words.
"I'll find out where he is, brainiac, and when I do…I'll kill him. No, I'll kill the two of you. Goodbye."
Henry couldn't help but gulp again after Rika's not-so-gentle farewell. However, he had a lot of things in his mind.
She will only kill him…if I don't kill him first!!!!!
***** Back to the future…I mean, the Digiworld! *****
"This is just great! From all the places that pillar could have taken us, we HAD to arrive to this horror movie rip-off!?"
"Terriermon, SHUT UP!"
Takato sighed as he tried to ignore the insanely loud argument between the two rookie Digimon. It had been like that since the moment they were finally released, and Takato knew he had taken the right choice when he decided to finally rest for the day. But he had to agree with Terriermon: the place they had arrived certainly looked like taken from a horror movie. Eternal night covered the land, as the dimensional plane (or sphere) of the real world replaced the shiny full moon. The barren land, dusty and lacking of grass was only adorned with dead trees. Seriously, the only thing missing was the creepy castle in the distance!
Takato's lack of surviving skills showed first when he was unable to start a bonfire, but the worst part came during dinner time.
"That's all you brought!?" Terriermon cried when he saw Takato's "supplies". Some pieces of Guilmon bread, chocolate, and a half-empty bottle of water.
"Seriously, you were coming to get us, and you only bring THIS!?" Terriermon continued.
"What did you want me to bring, a shopping cart!?" Takato shouted back.
"That wouldn't have been a bad idea!" Terriermon replied, and the argument continued, both human and Digimon ignoring Lopmon futile pleas for silence. Such silence only arrived after the three had their mediocre meal, only completed with wild mushrooms Lopmon found nearby (and as Takato would say later, "They tasted like crap!"). Anyway, now, as Terriermon kept complaining and Lopmon shouted back, Takato walked a few meters away. He wanted to spend some time alone with the Omnivice.
"Omnivice, activate." Takato said softly, after sitting down and leaning on a tree. A second later, the watch was replaced with the Digivice.
Select Function Mode: Battle/Control/Cancel. Takato chose "Control".
Control Mode Activated. Awaiting Instructions.
Takato didn't have to be a genius to realize the "Control Mode" was somehow related with the artifact's functions. Maybe he was supposed to program it somehow. But before he could program the device, he had to learn the language.
You know, I forgot to thank you. You really saved the day.
……………
Takato sighed. Of course, he couldn't expect the Omnivice to reply "You're welcome". However, his entire life was so chaotic Takato didn't know what to expect anymore.
Tell me more about this…Control Mode.
Control Mode defines the Digivice's basic operation patterns. Instructions given by the owner determine the instruction protocols.
Oh, great…I didn't understand half of what I read there…anyway; let's do this step by step. What kind of instructions do you expect?
The Omnivice analyzes the Tamer's word sequence and detects possible instructions. If more info is needed, it will be asked. If the instruction can't be achieved, it will be informed.
Okay, whatever…
Takato knew his Digivice had more secrets to reveal, but its principles of operation were so complicate to him that he found impossible to decipher how to unleash its full power. Takato looked at the two Digimon. It seemed like they had finally gotten tired of arguing and decided to take a break. They had fallen asleep in opposite sides of where the "bonfire" should have been. However, Takato didn't feel tired, even if he had had a near-death experience just a few hours ago. Now that he had "rescued" Lopmon and Terriermon, he wanted to do more. The faster, the better. He needed to find the others, but he knew it wouldn't be as easy. He had 7 Digimon left to find. Eight, if his plan worked (we'll reach that part later, don't worry). If he wanted to find them, he would need help, and he knew the Omnivice could help him. He just had to find out how. And that just could mean one thing: he had a lot of work to do.
*****Another part of the Digiworld *****
Pain. That's what SkullGreymon felt in that moment. As the powerful Digimon woke up and looked at his surroundings, its primitive mind regained consciousness of the situation: what had happened, and what was just happening at the moment. Being a Digimon born to battle, his basic instinct forced it to get up and search for new prey. However, and for the first time in its/his life, he/it didn't want just any data. Because, for the first time in his/its artificial life, he had seen a human. A real human. And he knew what that meant. He knew that little, puny, yet powerful human was his ticket to the other world. The Ultimate Digimon looked up, at the world so many Digimon wanted to reach, as he/it linked ideas. It didn't take him/it long to realize those two little Digimon he had been so close to absorb were special. Those Digimon had been in the real world, that's the only way they could have met that human. And if they had been in the other world and returned, they should carry some good data with them.
SkullGreymon started to walk. He/It now had an objective. He wanted data. Their data. Only then, he would gain access to the other world, and, who knows? Maybe even reaching the Mega Level. But he had to do something until he found them again. He wanted a snack, and the perfect one came in the shape of a poor Airdramon which was in the wrong place in the wrong moment.
"Dark Shot!"
A minute later, when the light disappeared and the smoke cleared, SkullGreymon had already gotten some new data. He/It was used to absorbing data; he/it did it almost every day. But that occasion, he/it had to admit it had felt a little different. A ticklish (if his/its bones can tickle, that is) sensation crossed his digital body, as his data patterns readjusted to compile a new chain of information. However, he/it would have time to concern about that later. Now he had other things to do. Better, more interesting things to do.
***** Back with Takato… *****
Takato was so concentrated on the Omnivice that he never noticed the small Digimon that slowly walked next to him. Only when Terriermon sat again, this time leaning on the same dead tree, Takato realized that he had company.
"Can't sleep?" Takato asked, his eyes never moving away from the small black screen.
"Nah…I'm used to this. You know, sleeping a few hours, fooling with the computer when Henry's still asleep…that stuff…"
Takato let go a silent laugh, as he didn't want Lopmon to wake up, too. However, he couldn't feel but glad to have Terriermon with him. He seriously needed someone to talk with, and Terriermon was an excellent partner for useless chit-chat.
"Gosh, you haven't even winked since you started fidgeting with that thing! What are you doing, anyway?" Terriermon asked, with a little more energy, as he slowly woke up.
"I've just been wondering…Omnivice, display the map again, please."
Immediately obeying the command, a holographic display of that part of the Digiworld appeared, with admirable detail.
"Not bad…it's a shame that it can't show us the light pillars. That would be a total life saver, you know?" Terriermon said, and, almost as if the Omnivice had felt insulted, it displayed a new message.
Processing new data patterns………100% complete. High Level Scan Activated.
Then, small, pink moving dots appeared on the holographic map, showing the exact location of every single light pillar.
"Whoa! Speaking of high-tech stuff!!!!" Terriermon exclaimed.
"Amazing, I must say." Takato completed.
"Now I wonder if this baby can tell us where those pillars lead to." Terriermon suggested. Such suggestion, added to Takato's mental instructions, activated a new message.
Introducing new codes. Scanning…1% complete. Please wait…
"Whoa, it seems like this one will take time. I guess that's my cue to rest a bit." Takato suggested.
"Hey, and what about me!? I just woke up!"
"Well, you can stand guard. We don't know when a wild Digimon could attack." Ignoring Terriermon's complains, Takato decided to lay down and get some sleep. It hadn't been five minutes when he felt something furry against his body.
"Terriermon!"
"What?"
"What are you doing here!?"
"Well…I got sleepy again!"
"Yeah, right…"
Takato decided to let the rookie Digimon do whatever he wanted, and just sleep. That wouldn't last long, though.
"Takato…"
"Hmm?"
"Thank you…" That got the goggle-head's attention.
"For what?"
"For coming here, to get us."
"Is the Digital World so bad?"
"No, it's perfect! We've got food, and there was this nice spring deep in the forest…before SkullGreymon burned the forest to ashes, that is…but anyway, the place is not the problem…"
"Do you miss Henry that bad?"
"Well, I admit Henry has something to do with it, but…"
"But…?"
"I'm tired of being afraid."
"Afraid?"
"Afraid of the next day. There isn't a day when Lopmon and I don't have to fight or run away from Digimon who want our data. We who have Tamers are in the 'most wanted' list or something…"
"Any reason in particular?"
"There's this belief that a 'Tamed' Digimon's data will allow any other Digimon to reach the real world. That's why every wild Digimon around here is hunting us down. We can't live like this anymore. I want to go back, Takato, I really do."
"I'll see what I can do. That's why I'm here anyway."
"That's good to hear…good night, Gogglehead."
"Good night, Terriermon…and don't call me Gogglehead ever again…"
As both human and Digimon drifted away to the dream world, one of them, specifically, the human, had more troubled thoughts than the other. The reason for that were the things Terriermon had just told him. Takato couldn't avoid thinking about this certain dinosaur Digimon.
I wonder…how has he been during these months…? Wherever you are, Guilmon, I'll find you…I promise…
That was the first time in months that his dreams didn't star him and Rika.
***** The next "morning" *****
The light of day had appeared hours before, however, the Tamer and the two Digimon couldn't find the will to get up and walk. Besides, having the most pathetic breakfast ever didn't help very much. Lopmon saved every possible bit of energy by resting, covered by the thick fog that attempted to darken the already gloomy scenery they were at. Takato was with the Omnivice again, still trying to reveal its secrets. And Terriermon, we all know he's the kind of mon that faces everything with humor and sarcasm.
"Takato, really, if every single day with you is gonna be like this, tell me, so I can pack my stuff and get the hell out of here!"
Terriermon really got worried when he only received a "shhh!!" for an answer. But the rookie's worries disappeared when he noticed Takato's smile.
"Here, Terriermon, check this out!" Takato called. In a moment, both human and Digimon looked at the holographic screen projected by the Omnivice.
"Hmm, Takato, sorry to disappoint you, but that's the same map I saw yesterday."
"Really? Well, check THIS out." Takato said as his right index finger softly "touched" one of the pink dots on the screen. Instantly, a second, smaller holographic screen appeared next to the original, showing the picture of a desert. Takato looked at Terriermon with a huge grin plastered on his face.
"Now we know where the pillars will take us."
Terriermon couldn't help but smile at Takato's work. Somehow, he knew there was more than a owner-machine relationship between Takato and the Omnivice, and his thoughts were strengthened every time the artifact showed another of its unbelievable abilities.
"Not bad. Can that thing take us to the nearest McDonalds? I'm starving!" Terriermon claimed as he walked away, probably to wake up Lopmon. However, Takato had something else in his mind.
If you could do all that, the next command should be a piece of cake…
As Takato finished his thoughts, the Omnivice began working.
Instruction not available. Further specifications are needed.
Oh, great! You can tell me where the light pillars lead to, but you can't detect a Digimon in this area!? Geez!
Only when Takato's frustration faded away, he understood the complexity of his request. There was probably an immense amount of Digimon in that area, that the Omnivice found it impossible to detect all of them. Then, understood what "further specifications" meant.
I guess I must give it a little more details…well…how could I…which was the word…"Tamed" Digimon?
As soon as he thought the last word, the Omnivice began working. It didn't take it long to display an answer.
2 Digimon Detected. Data? Yes/No
Takato sighed. Obviously the Omnivice had detected Terriermon and Lopmon. And, obviously, he couldn't use that.
Can you increase you scanning range?
Please wait………………5 Digimon Detected. Data? Yes/No
Now you're talking! Or showing, or…whatever! Show me position, now!
Taking Takato's tone of voice as the signal of an order with higher priority, the Omnivice displayed the map again, this time showing six new dots, two groups of three.
These ones are me, Terriermon and Lopmon, then those…
"Terriermon, Lopmon, we're leaving now!"
Ignoring the Digimon's complains (he was probably used to them; anyway), Takato led the group for half an hour, even if he actually carried both rookies for the last miles. Anyway, eventually, and as Takato followed the map and the pretty familiar compass (an oldie from Digimon Tamers…), Takato, Lopmon and Terriermon found themselves in a swamp. Yes, a swamp. And a very disgusting one, by the way.
"Eww, eww, and ewwww again!" Lopmon cried in a way the other two found surprising.
"This place stinks! Takato, what the heck are we doing here!?" Terriermon agreed with its twin.
"I…I detected something…well, actually, the Digivice did it, but anyway…some of our friends might be here…"
"Might? Might!? Well, Takato, 'Might' doesn't help me at all!" Terriermon continued.
"Oh, shut up and help me look!" Takato exclaimed. But he hadn't done a single step when he found his shoes filled with mud and stinky water.
"Oh, crap!"
"There, I said it! Now let's get out of here!" Terriermon said, added to Lopmon's "Please…"
"No way! Our friends could be here, and I'm looking for them…and you're coming with me!" Takato shouted as he continued walking deeper into the swamp, Terriermon and Lopmon safe on Takato's head and shoulder, respectively. Once again, Takato didn't have to walk very long, because in less than ten minutes, he found an island in the middle of that ocean of mud and ooze. And in the middle of the island, a cage. A very small cage, in fact. And inside the cage…
"Calumon?"
"Takato? Takato!"
The ever-happy in-training Digimon jumped in excitement, making the cage shake a little, and provoking the appearance of a certain pink figure from right behind him.
"Hey, and that's MarineAngemon!" Lopmon stated the obvious.
"Whoohoo! Two at the price of one!" Terriermon said.
"Okay, Lopmon, destroy that cage so we can get out of here!" Takato commanded.
"Sure thing! Blazing Ice!"
However, the small shards didn't do pretty much.
"Hey, watch it!" Calumon exclaimed from inside the cage.
"Sorry." Lopmon replied, to which MarineAngemon responded with a series of "pipupiipipu" or something like that.
"If you make all that noise, you'll awake the bad mon." Calumon said.
"Bad mon? What are you talking about?"
"Hmm…Takato? I think he means the hideous thing right behind us." Terriermon explained, followed by Takato's gulping. Slowly turning to face the "bad mon", Takato decided to look at Calumon's captor.
"Whoa, what's that!? Omnivice, detect, now!"
Devitamamon, a mutant Digimon at the Mega level. Virus type. Special Attacks: Black Death Cloud-Dazzling Eye
Takato had seen Digitamamon on the TV show, but he had never had the chance to see its mega evolution. It kept the same egg-shaped form, but that was the only thing the two Digimon had in common. Devitamamon was mainly black, with purple, well…things coming out of the limited holes the egg shell had. Black energy surrounded it giving it an aura of darkness and terror.
"Hmm, Takato…I think this is where we run like crazy…" Terriermon said, taking Takato out of his awkward sightseeing moment.
"Oh, yeah, right. Well…RUN!" Takato finally shouted, right before grabbing the cage and running as fast as possible, this time ignoring the mud that was covering his already-dirty clothes. However, Takato and the two Digimon didn't have the chance to run, because Devitamamon was already in front of them.
"Takato, what do we do now?" Lopmon asked.
"Well, we fight!"
"That's easy for you to say. You only slash cards and do cool poses, while we risk our Digital butts in there."
"Shut up, Terriermon! Get ready, as you too are going Ultimate! Now get off me!" Takato said as he pushed Terriermon off his head, making him fall to the ground.
"Ewwww! This really sucks!!"
"Terriermon, watch the language! Calumon is here!"
"What about me?"
"Awww, forget it…Omnivice, battle mode!"
Battle Mode Activated. Scanning Area for Possible Partners.
Takato got through the setup in record time, now that he knew he didn't have to do the entire button pressing process.
"Digi-Modify! DigiEvolution, activate!"
"Dual-Modify! Crest Tag, activate!" Takato shouted as he slashed the card twice, once for each Digimon.
MATRIX EVOLUTION
"Terriermon, digivolve to…Rapidmon!"
"Lopmon, digivolve to…Antylamon!" (A/N: Yay! Antylamon! Yay to original names!)
Takato now had two Ultimates to control. However, the most amazed with all that was the little Calumon.
"Whoa! How did you do that, Takato?"
"Long story, don't have time!"
"Rapid Fire!"
"Bunny Blades!"
Devitamamon easily grabbed Antylamon by the right arm and threw the animal Digimon in Rapidmon's direction, just to blast the two of them with its special attack, which strangely resembled Digitamamon's Nightmare Syndrome.
"Dazzling Eye!"
The purple, ghostly attack hit the two Ultimates sending them to the ground, filling them with mud all over again.
"Aw, great! I'm an android Digimon; all this crap damages my delicate parts!" Rapidmon shouted.
"Rapidmon, enough with the silliness! Fight!" Takato ordered.
"Well, you're not helping at all, 'Tamer'!!!!" Rapidmon said angrily as he returned to battle. However, his words actually affected Takato.
Damn it…which card can I use to help them defeat a Mega!? What can I do!?
However, the little time Takato used to think was long enough for Devitamamon to defeat both Digimon. When Takato looked up, he only saw a black mist covering the sky. A few seconds later, Terriermon was falling to the ground.
"Aaarrghh!!!"
Takato had to look to his right to see how Devitamamon hit Antylamon with its hard shell, making it de-evolve back to Lopmon! In an action that would determine the outcome of the battle, Takato ran through the swamp to pick the badly injured Terriermon.
"Terriermon!"
"…feeling…dizzy…"
"Terriermon…I…shouldn't have…" Takato couldn't finish, as he fell on his knees, with tears on his face.
"Now…why....are you… crying, silly?"
"I'm…I'm not Henry…I had enough trouble with Guilmon to think I could handle all of you…this Omnivice is too much for me…I can't control one Digimon, much less two or three of them!"
"Now…seriously!" Terriermon exclaimed as he tried to get up, uselessly. "What's wrong with you humans, anyway? Always giving up at the first try, immediately looking how to blame themselves, or even worse, blaming others for absolutely nothing!"
"What…what do you mean?"
"You…you promised me you'd take back home, back to Henry…and I believed in you…I can't…I won't forgive you if you fail me now! We've only had one battle as partners, but I already enjoy the variety. You just can't expect to fight with me the same way you fought with Guilmon. Different Digimon require different styles…different ways of looking at things…"
"So, if I become a sadistic master of sarcasm, I'll be able to win this fight?"
"That's not what I meant, Takato…"
"I know, I know…anyway, do you think you can go on?"
"Well…I still have some energy, but one of those recharge cards of yours wouldn't be a bad idea."
"I was just about to do that." Takato said, as he slashed a recharge card. He smiled when he noticed how both Terriermon and Lopmon got up soon after that, almost as if nothing had happened to them. But Takato was alarmed when he noticed that Devitamamon was about to grab the cage again.
"Terriermon, Omnivice, help me win this battle!"
Terriermon stepped aside Takato at the same time the Omnivice displayed some data Takato ignored, as he was too busy dealing with the new sensation traveling from his wrist to his mind and heart. Unique electricity, strange and familiar and the same time.
"Do you feel it, Terriermon?"
"I feel it, I like it, and I'll use it to kick some booty!"
"Terriermon, didn't I tell you to watch the language?"
"Whatever…"
Biomerge Activate
MATRIX EVOLUTION
OMNITAMER…
"Terriermon, digivolve to…"
Takato closed his eyes as his body slowly compressed and became nothing but part of a database. He could almost see how his data became part of Terriermon, who changed to a brand new Mega form. He saw Terriermon going through the Champion and Ultimate stages before acquiring his new appearance. Takato noticed how this new Digimon was a stronger version of Rapidmon. The exact same legs, now with golden "knees" and "feet" protection. His right arm had become a cannon: wider near the elbow, thinner where the hand should have been, and a black stripe around the edge. The left arm had the basic arm protection, and a black, robotic hand with what looked like sharp, pointy knuckles. He also had new chest armor, similar to Rapidmon's, but different in its own way. Two jet packs on the back gave the new Digimon the propulsion needed to fly, and a black core right on the front, similar to a big, black pearl. Black stripes went from the black pearl to the arms and knees. And finally, the android's head was pretty much like its Ultimate counterpart, but it now had three horns: one on the front, two on the sides, pointing in opposite directions, right and left. And a smaller black core right below the middle horn, between the eyes. A machine designed for speed and hit-and-run attacks. The fastest of all Digimon. His name was obvious, maybe even dull, but it said everything.
"…MegaRapidmon."
Inside his new green and gold core, Takato examined his new surroundings. The first thing he noticed was that being MegaRapidmon felt a lot different than being Gallantmon. He tried saying anything.
"Hmm…Terriermon?"
"Yes?"
"How do you feel?"
"Kind of funny…anyway, how does it feel being the second human inside of me?"
"Strange…but nice…"
"So…do we check out what we can do?"
"Sure, why not?"
Instantly, Takato felt a new surge of data around him. Someone, or something, was sending data inside his head.
"Omnivice? Are you still here?"
MegaRapidmon, an Android Digimon, Mega Level, Vaccine Type. Special Attacks: Ultra Fire, Pentagon Flare.
"Whoohoo! Terriermon, did you get that?"
"Yeah, but I knew most of that already. So, are you ready, Takato?"
"I was born ready! Well, not really…"
"Oh, shut up…"
*************************************************************************
End of Chapter 4…
DR: Finally! Gosh, it took me ages to write this one!
Terriermon: But I guess you have a good excuse for that, don't you?
DR: The same one as always? I was sick, and my computer wouldn't help make things faster.
Terriermon: It's just me, or you're always sick?
DR: 24/7, my friend…you know, I'm gonna take this chance to apologize to Digidestined of Courage. I got to read the ending of "Tamers V.S. Dracula", but my PC wouldn't let me review! Anyway, it was a great story, with a great ending. I'm already reading the next one! That's one fast writer!
Terriermon: But in the meantime, you've got two stories to write!
DR: Yeah, yeah…I'll start with "The Last Sorcerer" now…geez…
Next Chapter: Be witnesses of MegaRapidmon's power, as he deals with Devitamamon. Later, find out who's the newest member of the group, as Takato, Terriermon, Lopmon, Calumon and MarineAngemon get in ANOTHER light pillar! And finally, enjoy Rika's futile attempts to discover Takato's whereabouts, and a little elder wisdom…you'll see what I mean…all that in the next chapter of OmniTamer: Android Avengers!
