Italics = thoughts
"Quotes" = dialogue
bold = 'The Master's' words and thoughts.
underlined = reading something that is written
Disclaimer: I do not own digimon or any of its characters. I do however claim ownership of any original characters introduced.
Chapter 9: Depression and Conflict
Commandramon stands in the cave mouth, staring at the still blowing winds of sand. The human shuffles up next to him, his green eyes scanning the vast expanse outside. "The edge of the storm is nearing. "I'd say in less than an hour it will have passed us."
"How can you tell?" the saurian asks, looking up at him. The human looks down at him. "Call it intuition."
"So we'll be heading out soon?" Chiblynmon asks as he joins them.
"Yes. As soon as the storm dissipates," the human answers
"Where to?" Commandramon asks.
"Chiblynmon, if you would?" the human asks, reaching down.
Chiblynmon's hand glows and a small, purple bauble appears which he promptly hands to the human. The human holds it up to his eye level, seemingly peering within. "It seems they are looking to send two agents this time," he says as he continues to look into the glass ball.
"They'll need to do better then that against the tamers if they want to achieve their goal," Commandramon remarks.
"Yes, but remember that Armageddemon now possesses three of the twelve data signatures. They're plan is progressing, despite the tamers' efforts,"
"They don't even know about Armageddemon or his mission yet. It's not likely they'll stop it ," Chiblynmon adds.
"What about Ryo Akiyama?" Commandramon inquires.
"He needn't be a concern just yet. He has not yet shared what he knows with the rest of them and, if I know him, he won't."
The human's neutral expression slowly melts into a frown. "It seems they are not the only one's looking to send agents over. That girl who works with the sovereigns has recruited a Kotemon…"
"What should we do?" Chiblynmon asks.
"I didn't want to reveal ourselves so early, but we may not have a choice. We can't allow them to contact the tamers…" the human remarks with a smirk.
"Well the mission does always come first…" Commandramon says, brandishing his rifle.
"We'll just have to make it quick then," Chiblynmon says, flicking his long tail in the air behind him. "Eliminate the Kotemon and retreat before the sovereigns know what happened."
"Hopefully that will be enough…" the human remarks, a grave look coming to his face. "Well then, lets see if we can't…convince her to see this our way."
"Ye-he-ha! Time to rock and roll! Just like old times," the Commandramon shouts. Chiblynmon looks up at the human, taking the bauble from him. "How do you propose we take them?"
A grin comes to the human's face as he pulls out a purple D-ark with a green ring around the screen. "We give her a little demonstration, of course…"
Jeri squints her eyes as she peers around the vast desert expanse. The gentle breeze tickles at her face and blows some stray strands of hair. "Leomon! Leomon, where are you?" she shouts, cupping her hands around her mouth to better project her voice.
She notices a figure in the distance and runs towards it. She stops when she sees who it is. He stands in place, his hands balled into fists and his face contorted into an expression of rage. On his head, his yellow goggles reflect the fire burning in his eyes. "Takato?" Jeri asks.
She then notices Beelzemon charging from a distance, his eyes fixed in a deadly glare on his target. Takato steps between him and Jeri as he approaches, a determined look coming to his face.
"Make it stop!" Jeri screams, putting her hands on her head. "Leomon, please help me!"
The great lion tackles Beelzemon as he comes within inches of clawing the boy. The two scuffle for a time before Beelzemon plunges his claws into Leomon, who dissolves into data and is absorbed by Beelzemon.
"Nooo!" Jeri is hysterical and collapses onto the sandy floor. She looks up to see Beelzemon engaged in battle with a giant red dragon with dripping fangs and cold, dead eyes.
"Yes, Subject Jeri Katou. You see, humans only bring misery and woe. This endless cycle of destruction must end. This is why the world must be made clean of their taint." She turns to see a blue girl with piercing yellow eyes that strongly resembles her. "You!" Jeri exclaims backing away in fear. "Humans allow emotions to cloud their judgment and bring pain to other humans. Emotion must be deleted." Jeri covers her ears. "No! Stop talking! Get out of my head!"
"No matter what, you will never escape me, Subject Jeri Katou. You will be the key to their downfall."
"No! Please help me! Rika... Henry… TAKATO!"
Jeri awakens in a cold sweat. She sits up in her bed and wipes the perspiration from her head. "Just a nightmare…" She looks down to the foot of her bed to see Calumon curled up and snoring lightly. She slowly pulls her feet away and slides out of her bed, strolling over to her window.
The first rays of dawn begin to peek over the horizon and sparkle on the bay. Why do I keep dreaming about him? That's the fourth time this week. And now the D-Reaper too…" Jeri faces away from the window and grimaces. I'm losing it. I've got to remember what Dr. Hisawa told me."
**FLASHBACK**
"Hello Jeri. My name is Dr. Hisawa. I'm a psychologist. I'm just going to ask you a few questions," a tall man with dark hair says as he takes a seat across from her.
Jeri nods to him and pushes herself up in her seat.
"How are you feeling today?" he asks
"Pretty good," she answers.
"Good. Good. Now, you've been through a lot recently, haven't you?"
Jeri fidgets a bit, placing a hand on her arm and rubbing it to comfort herself. She gives a quick nod.
"Can you tell me what happened?"
"Well, this program called D-Reaper took me away from my friends and family and tried to use me to destroy the world…"
"And you think this is somehow your fault?"
Jeri shrugs. "If I hadn't been so weak, maybe it would never have gotten me."
"Interesting. Why don't you explain that to me? Why do you say you were weak?"
Tears came to Jeri's eyes as she recalled what had occurred. "Well, I was just depressed at the time, I guess. My partner, Leomon, had recently died while we were in the Digital World…"
"And you would say in this vulnerable moment, this D-Reaper took advantage of you?"
Jeri nods.
"Why did the D-Reaper take you?"
"It wanted information on how to complete its functions: to delete what had exceeded it's parameters. In this case, it was humanity."
"I see, and you believe it chose you because of the fact that you were in a vulnerable state?"
Jeri nods.
"And the children who rescued you. They are your friends?"
"Yes. Takato, Henry, and Rika had gone with me to the Digital World to look for Calumon."
"How long have you known them?"
"I had only just met Henry and Rika. I had known Takato from school. We've been in the same class since second grade."
"I see. And they were with you when Leomon died?"
"Yes," Jeri answers. "Leomon was saving Rika's partner, Kyubimon, from another digimon, Beelzemon, when he was killed."
"And these other friends of yours have digimon partners as well?"
"Yes, Henry has Terriermon and Takato has Guilmon."
"And were they fighting with this Beelzemon as well?"
"Yes."
"And why was this Beelzemon attacking you and your friends?"
Jeri shrugs. "He wanted power. I'm not really sure. The only person who really knew him before we went to the Digital World was Takato, and he knew him as a rookie called Impmon."
"And Takato didn't know why either?"
Jeri shrugs.
"So your partner perished while protecting your friends?"
Jeri nods.
"And how did you feel about that?"
Jeri clenches her fists. "Happy that no one else was hurt but sad that I lost him…"
"How did your friends feel about it?"
"I'm sure they were as sad as I was. Takato was angry; so angry that he turned his partner into a hideous monster and almost killed Beelzemon."
"And you didn't want him to?"
"I didn't want anyone else hurt because of me…"
"Would it have been because of you?"
Jeri looks up at him, Tears streaking down her cheeks.
"It seems to me like your taking blame that isn't yours."
"But it would be my fault if someone else got hurt, wouldn't it be?"
"Would it?"
Jeri turns her gaze back to the floor.
"What did you and your friends do after Leomon died?"
"They finished the mission and rescued Calumon."
"What about you?"
"I stayed behind. I didn't want to see anyone else get hurt."
"You didn't want to be to blame if anyone else got hurt?"
Jeri nods.
"And you think yourself to blame for Leomon's death and for the D-Reaper emergence?"
Jeri shrugs. "It's somebody's fault, right?"
"That's not what I asked. I asked is it yours?"
Jeri deflated further.
"Pinning all this blame on yourself is unhealthy. Try to think clearly as to who is to blame for what."
"How do I do that?"
"We'll do it together. What do you blame yourself for?"
"For everyone the D-Reaper killed. For all the pain I brought to my friends and family for not being strong enough."
"And you've said that you weren't strong because you were vulnerable after the loss of your partner. Was his death your fault?"
"I was his tamer. It was my job to keep him safe by swiping cards, but I was so paralyzed with fear…"
"And what were the others doing?"
"…I guess they were afraid, just like I was."
"Because anyone would be. You're partner's death was not your fault. It was the result of circumstance."
A small smile began to etch on Jeri's face. "It's not my fault…?"
"No. It seems to me that it's this Beelzemon's fault that your partner is dead."
Jeri's face tightens and she looks up. "No, he was just a victim of circumstance too!" she cries out.
"He was?"
"Yes, the sovereigns took advantage of him because he wanted to be strong!"
"Alright, so your both the victims of circumstance. Let's talk a little about how that circumstance came about. Why were you all there?"
"To rescue Calumon."
"Why did he need rescuing?"
"…well, we lost him when this mean monkey, Makuramon took him. Takato and the others tried to stop him, but he was too fast. That's why Takato said we should go after him, and we all agreed."
"I see…" Dr. Hisawa quickly scribbles something down. "Keep going. Say everything that comes to mind."
"Yea, and when we got to the Digital World, we got separated and we had to find each other and then, we found Takato and Henry and Beelzemon was attacking and we had to fight. Then… they had to rescue Calumon… and… I felt alone… and…"
Dr. Hisawa finishes scribbling. "It seems to me you already know who you think is responsible."
Jeri gives him a quizzical look.
"I see one commonality throughout your story. Do you see it?"
Jeri shakes her head. "You are very hung up on this Takato. You said Takato and the others tried to stop them. Then you said Takato suggested going to the Digital World. Then you said you got separated and had to find Takato. Then, if I'm getting this chronologically right, he and the others left you alone in a weak moment to complete the mission, thus leaving you susceptible to the D-Reaper. You seem subconsciously obsessed with this Takato."
Jeri makes a placating gesture. "Takato would never do anything to purposely hurt me or anyone. His heart was always in the right place…"
"But yet you seem to feel he has brought this misery on you."
"No!" Jeri shouts.
Dr. Hisawa looks at the clock. "Well, our time is up. We can pick up next session." Jeri stands and walks out of the office, her mind abuzz. I don't think it's Takato's fault, do I?"
**END FLASHBACK**
He was right of course. It had all been his fault. If only the others could see it…" There was a knock on her door. "Jeri, are you awake?" her father's voice says from the other side. "Yea, you can come in," she answers. He opens the door and enters the room. He moves to sit on the bed but reconsiders upon seeing Calumon sleeping.
"It's a little early, isn't it?" he asks.
Jeri shrugs. "Well I was about to head out on some errands. Would you like to come? It's been awhile since we spent time together."
"Jeri gave her father her warmest smile. "Yea, I could use a day away from my room."
"That picnic you went to wasn't enough?"
Jeri lets out a nervous giggle. "Well, it was nice to see everyone again, but it really just brought back a lot of bad memories and I could use the distraction."
"Alright. Wash up and get dressed and we'll head right out." With that, he left her room. She walks to her dresser and pulls out some clothes before heading out of her room. She doesn't notice the fog that rapidly appears over the bay…
Alice and Kotemon ride on Dobermon as he rushes across the rocky landscape towards the land of the sovereigns. "The Digital World will soon be stable enough for them to send their agents over again. We need to get you to the Real World quickly. You remember the whole message, or you need me to go over it again?"
"I've got it. You can count on me. I'll find Ryo and tell him what's going on and bring back a message from him and the other tamers."
"Good. We just might be able to stop all…"
"DCD Bomb!"
A grenade explodes in front of Dobermon and he skids to a halt.
"Shadow Spike!"
"Dobermon, take evasive action!" Alice yells.
Dobermon dives out of the way of the incoming attack, it narrowly missing Kotemon's head, and pivots to face his assailants.
Commandramon runs up, aiming his rifle at the great hound's passenger. Next to him stands a skeletal humanoid with glowing blue eyes, a horned helmet, and a decrepit, rotting sword. "I'm afraid I cannot allow you to send that Kotemon to the tamers, my dear," a human with green eyes says as he strolls up next to the two digimon.
"Atticus!" Alice shouts as she jumps from her partner's back.
"Miss me, cupcake?" he asks in a teasing voice.
"No, but thanks for saving me the trouble of tracking you down. Dobermon… get him!"
"Schwartz Strahl!" A black beam fires from Dobermon's mouth and arcs towards Atticus and his digimon.
"Blighting Strike!" the skeletal digimon shouts, swinging his sword and deflecting the attack.
"M16 Assassin!" Commandramon fires his rifle.
"Kotemon. Get down!" Alice yells, tackling the rookie.
"Schwartz Strahl!" Dobermon fires another attack.
"Bone Armor!" the skeletal digimon's bones glow as the attack hits.
"Digi-Modify! Hyper-speed activate! Go, Dragurmon!" Atticus shouts
Dragurmon charges out of the smoke and tackles Dobermon.
"Commandramon! Get that Kotemon!" Atticus shouts.
"Kotemon, run!" Alice yells.
Commandramon charges after them, only to be intercepted by Dobermon. "Where do you think you're going!" he grumbles.
"Blighting Strike!" Dragurmon yells, swinging his sword down. Dobermon grabs the sword with his teeth and shifts his weight, using the momentum of Dragurmon's swing to send him sprawling.
"DCD Bomb!" Commandramon lobs a grenade at Alice and Kotemon.
Kotemon draws his kendo stick and swings, knocking the grenade away before it detonates.
"Dobermon. Use the Grau Larm!" Alice shouts.
"Grau Larm!" Dobermon yells, sending a sound wave out.
"Bone Armor!" Dragurmon hardens himself again, thus resisting the attack. Commandramon is not so lucky and is flung backward by the blast.
He pulls himself to his feet and Atticus prepares to swipe another card when another attack is called out.
"Kongou!" the tiger sovereign, Baihumon shoots a beam at Dragurmon.
"Digi-Modify! Alias activate!" Atticus runs the card through his D-ark. Chiblynmon falls out of Dragurmon, who gets turned to metal by the attack.
Atticus growls in frustration. "Another day, Alice…"He grabs another two cards.
"Digi-Modify! Hyper wings activate! Dig-Modify! Strength activate!" Chiblynmon sprouts six luminescent wings and grabs Atticus, who is holding Commandramon and they fly off quickly.
Alice jumps on Dobermon, intent on following, but Baihumon stops her. "Leave him for now. We need to get this Kotemon to the Real World. They're already sending their two agents!"
Alice nods. "Go with Baihumon, Kotemon. He'll get you to the Real World. I am not letting that shade get away from me again!" She and Dobermon bolt off in the direction that Atticus flew while Baihumon grabs Kotemon in his jaws and takes off toward the land of the sovereigns.
They reach Ebonwumon's domain and Baihumon tosses Kotemon in front of a portal. "That should take you to the human world attached to this quadrant. Be careful, but be quick. Time is not on our side."
Kotemon nods and runs into the portal, entering an empty area with green, grid-like lines cris-crossing. A sensation of falling overtakes him and he descends towards what appears to be a large, blue sphere. As he approaches, he sees two more figures approaching the same blue sphere.
"Spiked Punch!"
Kotemon is slammed in the face by a spiky, club like appendage and barrels off course. He screams as he descends, eventually blacking out.
