I'm back! I've been busy with school, tests, and junk along those lines. So, here is a new chapter. Hope you like it.

Staggering out of the crater created by Magnadramon's assault, Impmon realized rather late that it might have been a bad idea to try to take on these guys. Correction, he already had known it was stupid, but what he regretted now was he had no real plan of attack. He had no escape plan except A) tell them what they wanted to know (Never going to happen), B) beat them all (not likely considering he was back at the rookie level again), C) die (not really a popular choice either), or D) hope that help arrived quickly (where are those guys?) and they can beat these jokers. Since he couldn't really do anything about the "survival-instinct-screaming-at-his-insanity" situation while he hoped the tamers show up, he felt it was his duty to continue to uphold the tradition of insulting anyone he met.

"Pinky, you got to work on your aim," he grinned faintly, ignoring that he felt tired and pounded. "If you were trying to play mad scientist, the Frankenstein monster you're supposed to zap with lightning is over there." He gestured at Boltmon, wincing at the movement.

"Cable Crusher!" screamed Diaboromon, slamming the rookie in the chest with incredible force.

The purple digimon flew from the blow, crashing into one of the few trees in the digital field. He started coughing, the wind knocked out of him. The mega virus type was nearly insane with rage. The only reason that he hadn't completely been destroyed by the creepy crawly was because he wanted answers (or he had the twisted desire to pound the rookie into the dirt). Impmon glanced up to find Boltmon close to him again.

"Do not be a traitor to you own kind nor throw away your life needlessly for the sake of a dangerous human," he advised, shifting his grip on his ax. "Simply tell us how to find the girl. Where is she?"

Climbing unsteadily upright, glaring defiantly at the data type as best he could while trying to catch his breath. That smack to his chest really hurt. Rather than trying to answer yet again he had no intention of saying a word about Jeri's location, he decided it was time to get out of the line of fire. He could get out of sight, keep an eye on them, and wait for back-up. Even Goggle-head isn't stupid enough to think one rookie could beat three megas and would call a retreat against those odds.

"Bite me," he coughed before trying to make a run for it.

If he could get into a tree or anywhere out of sight, maybe they'd waste time trying to find him long enough for help to arrive. All he needed to do was get away. He stumbled as he ran.

"Tomahawk Crunch!"

Blinding pain erupted across his back as the data type struck. Before he could get over that, an unforgiving had grabbed his arm. Diaboromon shook him like a rag doll. That guy needed to calm down. His fury seemed terrifying up close.

"If you do not help, I'll end your existence," hissed the mega. "And it will not be a quick end."

Panting, Impmon tried to stare intimidatingly while dangling helplessly, "Not going… to happen, ugly. Badda Boom!"

The fireball struck the yellow-eyed creature in the face, but the long-limbed digimon didn't even flinch. He took hold of the rookie's free arm and studied it calmly. Then, he snapped in.

The agony from the action washed over Impmon so hard, he couldn't even scream. All he could do was gasp and struggle to remain awake. Because if he wasn't awake, there was no reason to keep him alive to answer their questions.

The digital field hung over the park, a warning to any who recognized it for what it was that creatures from another world hid within, and thus smart humans had vacated the area. The red-haired girl and dark-haired boy intersected just outside the foreboding fog.

"Glad you could join us," smirked Rika. "Ready?"

"Takato isn't here," Henry noted.

She shrugged, "I'm sure Goggles will be here any minute. Let's not just stand around waiting for the slowpoke."

"He's always late for school," remarked the rabbit digimon. "Why should this be any different?"

"Something powerful is waiting," Renamon summarized. "If we wait for the others, we risk whatever is inside escaping the digital field. But if we go inside now, we could be facing something we're unprepared for and could be out-powered on our own. Whatever we choose, there is a risk."

Rika glanced at the mist, "I say we go. Something tells me we need to hurry."

The yellow fox nodded, "You're right. We need to be in there now."

Terriermon exchanged a look with his partner as the girls ran inside the fog, "I don't think I like it when those two gets 'feelings,' Henry."

Pain coursed through his body in various degrees of agony. Stupid mega digimon and their stupid "revenge against the traitor" agenda. And stupid him for playing hero. It was a suicidal move and he was paying for it. Why did he decide to do it?

Boltmon glared into the rookie's emerald eyes, "Traitor, I'll ask once more. Where is she?"

Jeri. She was why. He hurt her so much and all he wanted was to protect her from more. He attacked these three for the same reason he sought to break into the Kernel Sphere of the D-reaper: to make amends and protect one little girl. He spawned all of the madness that came from one stupid agreement for power and now the consequences were still following all of them. He was doing this because he took away her partner and she needed a guardian in Leomon's place. Impmon wasn't ideal, but the mess was caused by him to begin with.

Taking a deep breath and wincing as he did, he gasped in response, "It's… my… it's my… my fault. She… she…"

Diaboromon smacked the small virus type, knocking the air out of his sore chest and his broken arm to jerk in an agonizing movement. The rookie let out a breathless groan. The mega leaned close.

"I swear," he hissed, "I'll see you punished for what you have done. And we will find her. We won't stop until we do."

He wanted to answer; he wanted to say something to those hate-filled eyes, but he couldn't. The rookie was too tired and too hurt to think of a comeback. He just closed his emerald eyes, wondering how things had gone so wrong.

Then, someone up there decided to take pity on him it seemed. An annoying, but highly welcomed voice came out of the fog.

"Henry, there are three megas! I don't think us and Sakuyamon are quite enough to cover it," a certain rabbit digimon submitted.

Opening his eyes, the rookie could make out the shape of MegaGargomon approaching. From Diaboromon's expression, he saw it too. Boltmon glanced at the coming creatures. The tall, ax-wielding data stepped forward, both concealing the two viruses and gaining a better view of the giant mega.

"I know you. You and your friends combated the Chaos," he remarked.

"Yes, we fought the D-reaper," acknowledged Sakuyamon, joining the robotic dog. "That doesn't explain your presence here."

"Our fight is not with you," Magnadramon explained. "You are heroes that helped save both worlds. We came only to bring a traitor to justice."

Boltmon added, "You know the identity of this traitor. Surely heroes who have done so much would be willing to assist in our efforts."

"Something's not right here," muttered the golden fox-lady. "You're hiding something from us."

Impmon struggled to take a deep enough breath to be heard, "…Toots…" His words were barely a whisper, but Diaboromon tightened his grip on the rookie's good arm threateningly. As much as it hurt to breathe too deeply, he forced himself to try again, "… Fox-face."

Sakuyamon jerked at the weak-sounding voice, "Impmon?"

"How many people did you betray?" asked a stunned Terriermon from the giant mega, catching sight finally of the small purple being.

Diaboromon shook the limp creature demonstratively, producing a painful moan from the rookie, "This thing is guilty of many crimes, including killing my hive. But he isn't who we came seeking. But he makes a worth addition."

"He is concealing the traitor's location, protecting one who aligned themselves with the ultimate enemy, and will be treated as a traitor as well if he continues," explained Boltmon in a calm voice.

"There was no reason for his suffering to occur," sighed Magnadramon sadly. "But he attacked first and is too stubborn. We would have preferred not to include him."

"Speak for yourself," growled the yellowed-eyed virus. "I shall enjoy his destruction."

"Put him down," Sakuyamon ordered.

"What traitor?" asked MegaGargomon. "Who are you looking for?"

Impmon wanted to tell them, explain they were after Jeri. But he just couldn't summon the strength. He could feel his body just dangling with pain pulsing through every inch. Maybe blacking out would be a better option than fighting to remain conscious.

"We're looking for her," Boltmon repeated. "The traitor to humans and digimon alike. And any who inhibits our mission is just as great a traitor."

"Fine, just put him down," urged the shaman mega.

"Maybe we can work something out," MegaGargomon suggested. "We just needed to be reasonable about this whole thing. Let Impmon go."

The purple rookie briefly wondered how he ended up in a hostage situation, let alone having hostage negotiations occur around him by a group of megas. Honestly, if he got out alive, he'd never hear the end of this. Not to mention the twins would never let him out of their sight again.

Chuckling, the virus mega shook his head, "Oh no, he's mine. I came to gain revenge, not just justice. These two," he pointed at Boltmon and Magnadramon, "want justice against the girl for crimes she committed. I'll be satisfied with revenge against him for the murder of my hive."

"Lightning Joust!"

Boltmon screamed as he was struck by the attack. Gallantmon stepped through the mist, and he looked ticked off. Diaboromon and the pink dragon stared at their fallen teammate.

The knight announced, "You are not welcome here. You will not hurt any of our friends anymore. Let go of Impmon and we will let you return to the digital world. You will not, however, try to destroy Jeri!"

Behold! In case you didn't notice, it's caught up to where it was on the first chapter and now the cavalry has arrived. Hope you liked it and I'll try to add more when I can. It will likely be a little while though.