I thought I can get it through in one chapter but no I need two.

(¯ˆ·.¸Hope through Metal City (Part 1) .·ˆ¯)

Of all places Daisuke could choose in Digital World he had just to choose metal city Machinarium. It was one of the most advanced civilization in Digital World, and heavily fortified by an army of Machine Digimon. "This is bad… I know this place." Tailmon murmured, "Patamon and Takeru used to visit this place a lot, so I know it even though I have never been there personally."

Hikari stopped typing, "Then… it's safe?"

Tailmon shook her head, "It's a black area… that Digimon Kaizer how did he manage to conquer this area in the first place?" She gritted her teeth, "And that Daisuke… now he is really trying to chew more than he could, Takeru will be furious." Patamon too.

"Wha? Why?" Hikari asked in shock.

The cat like digimon scowled, "I don't want to say but… you do know that unless we receive SOS signal Takeru would always be the one who decide which area to be freed?" Hikari nodded, "I didn't notice it at first but it's so like him, all this time he choose the area systematically… slowly and steadily choosing area from lowest to higher security so Daisuke, Iori and Miyako can improve on their own pace."

"That's…" Takeru-kun went that far?

Tailmon sighed, "So far he always avoid this kind of area… but he and Patamon has been eyeing this place for quite some time, it's a vital area for Digimon Kaizer so we're going to face resistance like we have never seen before in previous areas… we have to hurry to bring those idiots back before they get killed!"

Hikari closed his D-terminal with a snap, "Then let's go! Tailmon! Digital Gate open!"

As they were transported Tailmon asked her, "You didn't inform Takeru first?!"

"But you said Takeru-kun will be furious if he know! I can't let him to get mad at Daisuke more than he already has! If we brings everyone back to Real World before anything happen, he will never know!" Hikari didn't like to lie to Takeru but she didn't want to see him that angry at Daisuke again.

Tailmon couldn't believe her ears, "You think? I know Takeru and Patamon! Somehow!" She landed softly on the metallic surface. "They will know!"

Hikari was firm in her decision. "We have to! At this rate our team will break apart!"

The holy digimon groaned, "Fine… but I warned you! Now we should look for them before they get in too much problem! Or before…"

A mechanical voice almost made her jump, "Intruder! Intruder alert!"

"Before we do." Tailmon finished lamely. "Hikari! Armor-evolution!"

Hikari nodded, "Digimental-up!"

Nefertimon emerged just in time to swept Hikari to the sky, away from Guardomon's missile.

BOOM!

"Thank you! Nefertimon." Hikari thanked her digimon sheepishly.

Nefertimon snorted, "Don't thank me now… look down." Hikari gasped there were so many of Guardomon patrolling the city and all of them had evil ring on them. "This is Machinarium, the metal city of Machine type digimon… we're up against an army here." And a well-trained one that would put Vamdemon's Bakemon army to shame.

So this was the kind of danger Takeru-kun tried to protect them from?

The holy beast digimon didn't say anything but she supposed they would be very lucky to get out of this place unscathed, and that was if those three could survive endless horde of Guardomon. There was another thing she purposely didn't tell Hikari. While she had never been here personally she knew who Takeru and Patamon were visiting in the past in this city. She was panic enough to bring their friends back before Takeru get a wind of this, she didn't need another thing on top of it.

The lord of Machinarium, Andromon, a perfect level machine type digimon who helped their battle in the past. If he appeared and under Kaizer's control, they stood no chance against him. Absolutely none…

Ishida's residence

Taking a bath was a luxury in digital world, the lord of Metafalica or not. You couldn't get access to water body all the time you wanted and drinking water was more important than washing your body in Digiworld. So when he was in Real World he tried to enjoy this luxury, soaking in hot water to calm his mind. It didn't help a lot though, as he couldn't get their shocked expressions out of his mind.

What he had done? Scaring not only Daisuke, but also Miyako-san and Iori-kun too. Maybe Hikari-chan was also scared of him now, because he shower her his bad side. "Blup blup blup…"

Patamon frowned at him disapprovingly, "Don't do that." He chided, "And all things considered it's a good call to send them home."

Takeru craned his neck, "You're not trying to make me feel better, do you?"

"No." Patamon was as blunt as ever to call his idiocy out. "But if you're trying to knock some sense to Daisuke, I don't think it works." He is the type who learned the wall is hard with running to it.

The child of hope sighed loudly, "Maybe I am really not fit to lead human after all… well, not that I was what I am trying to do. I just want to make sure no one gets hurt unnecessarily." He grumbled as he stood up and began to dry himself while Patamon helped rubbing his wet hair with towel.

He was well aware it was impossible to not get hurt in their life as Chosen Children. He also had no intention to shield them from the pain because he and older kids couldn't protect them forever, they had to deal with it sooner or later but for now he wanted to at least let them to grow on their own pace, and not forced by survival need like what happened to previous generation. Sure they grew up, and pulled themselves through all their trials and errors, but in the end all of them bear a scar.

"You have a lot of things on your mind… your new teammates, our people and then Ken." Patamon said as he turned on the hairdryer as he finished dressing himself.

And there was Ken… perhaps by the end of this, Ken would bear a scar worse than they had. The price of their power as Chosen Children was the darkness that came with their light. Taichi's courage and his fear, his brother's friendship and his loneliness, and then…

His hope and despair… the irony was they couldn't learn their light without their darkness, he would never know hope if he didn't know despair.

When he knew what Ken's crest was he had hoped… Ken didn't have to learn his darkness, because that child was such a kind soul. Then again with darkness tainting him, naturally he would embrace cruelty. If Takeru's greatest pain was his despair, for Ken it would be cruelty and now unknowingly Ken was torturing himself.

Then how about the new kids, they inherit the crest from the previous generation, didn't they?

So what was Daisuke's darkness? Fear like Taichi perhaps?

"Done."

He was snapped out of his thought by Patamon's voice, then he saw his reflection on the mirror with neatly combed hair to the side that made him looked like a prim looking office worker. "Patamon… you fail at attempting humor as usual."

Patamon rolled his eyes as Takeru who quickly fixed his hair, "I tried, but you know I don't have a sense of humor."

Or more like he forgot when his default form became an Angemon, although occasionally he shot some deadpan retort at Wisemon's joke. "Thanks anyway…" Takeru grinned, "Well then, I think I will go visit Hikari-chan in Odaiba…" At least he should calm her down after his temper tantrum, the irony that it was him who had a tantrum and he was going to calm people down. "And apologize to Daisuke if I see him…" There was no point waiting for the next day.

He walked out of the bathroom and went to his bedroom, checking his D-terminal and disappointed to see he had no mail. "Ugh…" He cringed, "I guess I really scare them." He tapped his closed communicator against his chin. He would have felt better if they got angry at him instead.

Patamon sighed as he landed on top of Takeru's desk, "I guess being the leader of a military country make you tense, Takeru…" The child of hope opened his mouth to protest but Patamon cut him off. "Our people of Metafalica had their work ethic engraved to their very soul since they were born… if we ask them to jump, they will ask us how high…"

"I didn't see them as the same." Takeru protested, "I didn't expect my friends to obey me… they have no duty to me."

"True." Patamon agreed, "Which is why you're so careful with them… they're not your soldier."

Takeru sighed loudly, "So where did I go wrong with them?" He wondered, as inspecting his clothes. A headband from vintage jeans that contrast against his blond locks, a silver sing pendant, light grey undershirt, sleeveless hoodie in dark blue color and jeans.

He didn't care much of fashion but back at Metafalica female digimon just loved to dress him up so he had picked a habit to dress himself well. His mother also picked up this habit for some reason, probably because he had not forbid her from touching his wardrobe like Yamato did.

"With Ken and Ryo I didn't get this much trouble…"

"Simply because to them relying on you is natural thing to do." Patamon pointed out as Takeru began to comb his fur. Again, another habit they picked up because of their status even though they didn't want to. Presentable all the time was just part of their job. "They bet their life with no way to go back… and also because back then you're not trying to protect them from harm at all you fight together with them."

Takeru's shoulders slumped, "In the end… the situation is different, and the peoples are different…" He listed on forlornly. "Well…. We better get going." He stretched his arms as he walked to the front door and retrieved his roller blade from the shoe racks.

Patamon hopped to Takeru's hood, there was enough space for him inside. They were about to walked out of the house when Yamato popped his head from the dining room. "You're going out already?"

"Yes." Takeru answered, "I will tell you why later Nii-san…"

Yamato pouted, "I miss you calling me Onii-chan."

Takeru snorted, "You're not so little now, are you?" He said as he put on his shoes.

The older blond sighed loudly, "And here I though I am the cool one… seriously Takeru, since when you're this unflappable?" He wondered, raising an eyebrow at his brother. "And also… for a guy who had been in digital world for three years, you seems to be up to date with fashion."

The younger blond rolled his eyes, "I will give you fashion tips later if you want." He joked, much to Yamato's chagrin. "I am going to Odaiba Elementary to see our friends."

Yamato frowned as Takeru closed the door, wondering why Takeru went through this much trouble to go to Tamachi Elementary if he hung out with Odaiba kids all the time. Well, he had that genius boy as his friends but as far as Yamato see, Takeru just… kept everyone else at arm length even though people were drawn to his genial personality. Takeru could fool other people but not him, because Yamato was Takeru's brother and the Child of Friendship.

He should talk to Takeru about this later or he should forfeit his title as the bearer of friendship crest.

Digital World, Metal City Machinarium

BOOM!

Daisuke decided that, controlled or not Guardomon would forever be his least favorite digimon forever. Guardomon was a machine type digimon and yet they came in swarm like bees, endlessly appeared from every corner of the city like ants when their nest was intruded. Their constant chanting of 'Intruder Alert' also grated his nerve. They also extremely destructive, and looking at that giant hole they made obviously one hit would regress their digimon to child form.

"Fire rocket!" Flamedramon yelled as he rammed his fiery claw at Guardomon that got too close.

"Intruder alert!"

"Intruder alert!" They chanted as more of them appeared, this time from a manhole, or a guardomon-hole as it was big enough for them.

This never happened before, sure they had been outnumbered but never this badly and not endlessly like this! What the hell was happening here?!

"Daisuke-san." Iori yelled at him, "This is out of our league! Let's retreat!"

Daisuke was tempted to say yes but helf his tongue because retreating was the last thing he wanted to do when he decided to jump in to this place. "Running away?! No! The tower is just over there!" He pointed at it, "As long as we destroy it we will win!"

Miyako who was riding Halsemon yelled, "Easy for you to say! That's the central of this city and Guardomon didn't let us to get close at all!"

Iori's eyes widened, "Miyako-san! Watch out!" He warned.

Miyako turned around and screamed when she saw incoming missile aimed towards her and Halsemon. "Curse of Queen!"

BOOM!

Daisuke's eyes lighted when they saw a familiar winged feline and petite girl riding it. "Hikari-chan!" In the background their digimon whined as their energy ran out and they reverted to child form.

Hikari glared at her and the google boy cowed. "We have to get back!"

"Eh?!" He protested, "But!"

"Daisuke! All of you!" Nefertimon hissed angrily as she flew down, "Are in so MUCH trouble now!" Nefertimon stepped forward, startling Daisuke as the feline had her masked head too close for comfort. "You are in trouble…" She hissed again. "Do you know what this place is?"

Daisuke shook his head.

Hikari answered for him, "This is Metal City Machinarium… we shouldn't be here…"

The google boy swallowed, "Why? This place should be freed from Digimon Kaizer's control!"

"Yes." Nefertimon growled, "But this place is a military city, you're not strong enough to face hundreds of Guardomon at once! You can't even get close to the tower!" Then she added, "If you think Takeru was scary just now, I can't imagine his fury if he know you bring your team to this place! It's out of your league!"

As one the three Chosen Children paled, recalling how furious their de facto leader was and they had stepped on another landmine of his.

Hikari couldn't help but disheartened to see how scared they were of Takeru. Even though he was angry for their safety, beside Takeru wouldn't…

"Now!" Nefertimon reverted to her child form. "Let's run for it!" The television was close and as long as they made it there they would be safe. They didn't wait and ran pass the two light bearers, Tailmon looked back once in a while as they ran, hopefully they weren't followed.

The TV was right on their sight as all Chosen Children raised their digivice, one by one they were sucked to the gate started with Daisuke, Miyako, Iori and…

Tailmon's eyes widened when she spotted a Guardomon aiming his missile at them, she quickly grabbed Hikari and tackled her just in time when the missile fly.

BOOM!

Real World

"Waaah!"

"Kyaa!"

"Ouch!"

They groaned in pain as they struggled to entangle themselves from each other. "Did something just exploded?" Miyako wondered as she rubbed her ears.

Upamon jumped up and down. "I think I saw a missile before I…" He trailed off.

Sound of sliding door interrupted their discussion and as one they turned to the door, an excuse was ready on their lips before it died when they saw a familiar blond stepped in to the room. No one spoke as those twin blue orbs gazed down at them who was still on the floor and none of them dared to stand or to breathe a word. Takeru was the tallest member among them, not by much, but their sitting position made his towering form very intimidating.

"Where is Hikari-chan?" The blond broke the silence at last.

"And Tailmon?" Added the orange digimon beside him.

Then as one they looked at each other, eyes widening when they realized they were one people and one digimon sort.

Miyako turned to Upamon, "You said you saw… could it be that… Guardomon destroyed the TV before Hikari-chan could get in?!" She gasped as she ran towards the computer, checking the gate. "No good! It's closed!"

"We have to get back!" Daisuke yelled, "The last one was Iori right?! Why didn't you help her?!"

Iori winced guiltily. "I don't know that…"

"Guardomon?" His voice reminded them that they were not alone. "Where were you just now?" They turned as one, swallowing when they saw how dark Takeru's expression was.

Iori bowed, "We're so sorry! Takeru-san! Because of our recklessness, Hikari-san…"

Miyako was on the brink of tears, "I am sorry but the gate is…" She yelled in frustration, "Eh?"

Takeru gently pushed her chair aside, startling the bespectacled girl. "Excuse me…" His eyes narrowed when he saw which gate they opened just now, "You went to Machinarium?" Of all places they could choose…

Daisuke swallowed, "Yes… it's my fault! I…"

Takeru typed in another coordinate, as if he didn't notice Daisuke was talking to him. "Even though the gate to Machinarium is closed the area next to it is still open." He analyzed calmly. "A white area is next to it…" He set the coordinate, "Patamon, let's go."

"Alright!" Patamon jumped in and they disappeared to digital world.

Daisuke followed shortly, "It's my responsibility! Chibimon, let's go!"

"Hai!" The blue baby digimon cheered.

Desert Area, Lapis Sand

It was an area of endless desert, which held little to no importance in spite of it was closely located to Machinarium. No Digimon lived in this desert because the lack of food and water, it was a barren and lifeless as far as eyes could see. Which was probably why Digimon Kaizer didn't bother to claim it.

Takeru checked his digivice, the clock indicated it was almost six. Looking back to the portal only Daisuke followed but not Iori and Miyako, typical of Daisuke really. Iori most likely stopped Miyako from going because it was almost curfew for most elementary school student, so they opted to run an intervention so no one would get suspicious. Takeru was very thankful that Iori was such a smart and rational person, and he noted to thank the younger boy later for his trouble.

"Uhm…" Daisuke began nervously, "The sun is going down already… shouldn't you go home? This is my fault in the first place so…"

Takeru turned towards the google boy, "How about your parents?" He asked back.

"They won't care." He answered. "And you didn't answer me."

Takeru chuckled softly, "I have been in this world for three years, don't you think my parents already know?" Daisuke supposed it was a stupid question to ask to a guy who had spent one fourth of his life in Digital world. "And you owe Iori-kun or whoever is covering for you." He added.

Daisuke swallowed, steeling himself. "Ne… Takeru…"

"Don't think about it." Takeru interjected before he could continue. "We're going to enter a battlefield, don't concern yourself with anything else. If you hesitate, you lose."

That sounded like something Taichi-san would say or… a soldier would, "But still…" Daisuke rummaged his pocket and pulled a coin. "Let's toss the coin! If it's head…"

"Star." Takeru said all of a sudden. "I chose star."

"But there is no star." Daisuke had tossed the coin though, his eyes glued on the spinning coin before something gold flashed.

CLANK!

Then the coin was gone, something was flying to horizon, and its reflective surface against the sunset made it looked like a star before it disappeared. It took Daisuke a few seconds to compute what just happened when he saw Takeru holding his ever present staff-how the hell he always carried one anyway- over his shoulder and looking at the direction of that star.

"There we go." Takeru shrugged as his staff collapsed to a one feet long cylinder and strapped it back to his belt. "Let's go to Machinarium… us both." He stressed the last part.

Daisuke swallowed, wondering if he had crossed another line with the joke just now. "You're not going to send me back home?"

"I believe I did exactly that few hours ago." Takeru reminded him, "If you're just going to come back as soon as I turn my back what is the point?"

"I…"

Takeru craned his neck towards Daisuke, and the tanned boy was surprised to see apologetic smile on his face. "Beside… telling you to go back now would be unfair to you because you want to be here as much as I do." He took a deep breath, "Forget what I said before for now, and just concentrate on task at hand."

Daisuke nodded nervously, caught off guard by how fast Takeru was back to his nice guy personality. It was like he had double personality, this nice side that you can almost describe as angelic and… the more intense, and intimidating side that reminded Daisuke of Flamedramon's fire.

Another silence stretched between them and Daisuke decided to risk breaking it. "Ne… Takeru."

"Hm?"

"Shouldn't we walk faster?" Daisuke asked, "After all Hikari-chan is in danger and we don't know…"

Takeru closed his eyes abruptly for a short moment and Daisuke was surprised when he opened his eyes Takeru confidently stated. "She is fine… don't worry we will get to her in time… beside running will just make us tired before we get there."

"How do you know…" He was interrupted by familiar ping sound D-terminal made, it was his. Daisuke quickly check the email, it was from Hikari-chan. She wrote she was fine so don't worry about her, and she was looking for another portal now with Tailmon. He winced when he saw she also wrote ps: Don't tell Takeru-kun, and the mentioned guy was peering over his shoulders.

Takeru sighed exasperatedly, recalling what happened in the first adventure. How she stubbornly endured her cold until she collapsed because she didn't want to trouble them. "She is always like this…" He murmured softly but loud enough for them to hear him.

"Always?" Daisuke echoed, "What do you mean?"

The blond looked confused for a moment, "She always put other people's feeling over her own, even if it's at the cost of her wellbeing."

Daisuke supposed because Hikari-chan was such a great and kind person that sounded just like her, but… he had knew her since the fourth grade but he didn't know what Takeru meant that she was always like this. Jealousy bubbled on the back of his mind but he quickly pushed it away, not the time to be concerned of his own feeling when Hikari-chan was in danger!

Patamon eyed his partner and the heir of courage with skeptical eyes. "Your partner is making things complicated, he could have just agreed with Takeru to go together without so much fuss…"

Veemon gave the other digimon an exasperated sigh, "He just want to act cool."

Unfortunately Daisuke had no knack for it, and as much as he had faith in his partner Veemon hoped Daisuke would stop trying his hand in this cool nonsense because he was not cool at all when he tried. Daisuke was cool enough when he was being himself, he didn't have to try in Veemon's opinion.

"Just hope he grow out of it." Patamon said to Veemon before the orange digimon flew ahead to his partner's side. "Machinarium is already on sight." He announced as all of them quickly ducked behind a sand dune, spotting a Guardomon was standing in front of the city gate.

Daisuke narrowed his eyes, "There's only one guard." He wanted to suggest to go kick this Guardomon's butt but he knew Takeru wouldn't approve. He didn't like it but he stayed still, Takeru would suggest something better for sure.

Takeru pulled his D-3 and typed something very quickly, and whoever he sent the email to promptly replied because few seconds later he already got a reply. The exchange continued back and forth for a full minute before Takeru closed his D-3 with a snap then announced. "Let's take care of the guard then."

The heir of courage blinked in disbelief, "But… then… how about strategy?! Stealth? All that subtle mumbo jumbo you keep telling us?!"

Takeru rolled his eyes, an amused smirk on his lips. "Why… I thought you will jump at the chance when I give you permission to get loose?" Daisuke stammered. "In short at this point of time there is no point to be subtle, because Kaizer already know he has an intruder in his area and expecting us."

"Oh…" Daisuke's shoulders slumped.

His blue eyes softened, "Don't look like that, just focus on rescuing Hikari-chan and nothing else." Then he craned his neck at the lone Guardomon. "So, who wants the honor?"

Veemon was about to volunteer but Patamon was faster. "Wait, there is no Black Tower here, right?"

"Yeah…" Takeru smirked, reading through his partner's intention. "Are you sure you don't want to stay cuddly and compact?"

Patamon knew Takeru was teasing him in hope to ease the tension with Daisuke but he was still annoyed. Why all of them couldn't leave his child form alone, so what if his image was in ruin? "Very sure." He harrumphed, "Beside… we need to be in full power against you know who and I can't fight him As Pegasmon."

"Who?" Daisuke and Veemon echoed.

Takeru's expression turned serious, "Right… then go for it." Takeru said as he held his digivice up.

Daisuke was about to complain what's with Takeru and Patamon talking vaguely but stopped when he and Veemon was almost blinded by a bright light of evolution. He had seen normal evolution with Gabumon and Agumon before the light was not this bright. What digimon… sound of flapping wings and was that church bell he heard? The first thing he saw after nearly blinded was a feather falling before his eyes, white and glowing.

Then in Patamon's place a humanoid figure appeared as if he just descended from higher place, there was just one word to describe the digimon that just appeared. "An Angel?"

"I didn't miss you at all Angemon." Takeru said, smiling at his partner who pointedly ignore him. "Kidding... I miss you so much my angelic partner."

Angemon harrumphed, "Very funny… now then…"

"Aaa… ange… Angemon?!" The hope bearers turned as one towards Daisuke and Veemon, the tanned boy's jaw was dropping and Veemon was staring at Angemon wide eyedly.

For a moment Daisuke reminded Takeru of someone else who in their first meeting had stared at Angemon abashedly even though he was such a timid child. He was used to jaw dropping and wide eyed stare aimed at his partner, and on second though Daisuke's reaction was typical jaw-drop, not adorable at all... not alike, maybe staring at computer too much did made him seeing things.

Angemon just smiled at the pair, before he maneuvered towards the unsuspecting Guardomon. It didn't even manage to spot Angemon as his staff already flew towards the evil ring it wore, and Guardomon ceased to function. Then he expertly caught the thrown staff back, and beckoned his friends to come over. "Got him, let's go."

The rest of their team quickly followed, and Takeru inspected the knocked out digimon. "Did the Guardomon you fought shut down like this when you destroy their ring?" He asked.

Daisuke frowned, he didn't get why Takeru was concerned about that. "Yeah, we panicked a little because we thought they died for a moment but Taichi-san already told me when Digimon died they… dispersed… no body so…" He informed the blond recalling how they freaked out when Guardomon stopped moving after they destroyed the evil ring.

Takeru cupped his chin, "Aah… how troublesome, but of course he prepares this kind of counter measure." Machine digimon tend to be tougher than other type but against someone like Digimon Kaizer they were frail.

"Counter measure?" Daisuke echoed. "For what?"

"I will explain later." Takeru promised.

Then something popped up on Daisuke's mind, "So Patamon can digivolve like Agumon?"

Takeru raised an eyebrow, "Yes, of course… as long as no Dark Tower around."

Daisuke's curiosity was still unsatisfied. "Hey, if your digimon can evolve that means Hikari-chan's Tailmon too?"

It was odd to see Daisuke this curious like Iori and Koushiro. "Yes, she can… she evolve to Angewomon." He told Daisuke before the google boy can ask.

"Angewomon?" He eyed Angemon hard and Takeru's partner couldn't help but confused what the stare was for.

"An angel digimon too, Angemon's female counterpart." That was the easiest way to describe Angewomon. "And…" Takeru trailed off, eyeing his partner expectantly.

Angemon tilted his head to side, wondering what Takeru was expecting with that look. "We work very well together…" He tried.

Takeru sighed, "Close enough… you guys looks good together." He corrected.

"Thank you?" Angemon was no stranger to superficial compliment thrown his way, but what was Takeru tried to get at.

"Veemon!" Daisuke blew up, all previous tension long gone forgotten. "Evolve to an angel too!" He demanded to the blue dragon digimon who eeped at sudden enthusiasm his partner displayed after his somber mood. "Ultra-angemon! Be one! Evolve to one!"

Veemon flailed as his partner shook his violently, "That's not something you can ask~" He wailed.

Now with Daisuke back to his old self Takeru set his eyes on the iron get and reminded the two that they had a work to do. "Let's get inside first."

Angemon shrugged, wondering how Takeru's light hearted comment set Daisuke off like. Concentrating at the task at hand, he promptly knocked the door a hole with his staff. "Alright, let's go."

Daisuke stay rooted in his place, so did Veemon. "Did you just… knock the gate down?!" He shrieked.

Takeru rolled his eyes, "Daisuke-kun, why do you complain when we're doing exactly like you always wanted?" He wondered.

"But! But! But!"

The blond groaned, "Digimental up first! Question and answer later!"

Hikari and Nefertimon

She knew it was a futile effort because so far they never found more than one port in one area but she couldn't give up, and trying to leave this city the manual way was not possible because at some point she already lost track of her own location. She didn't even know where the exit was if there was any in the first place in this dome like gigantic structure.

Nefertimon was still looking, "Is there any TV left in this area?"

"There is no other port in this area it seems…" As much as she hated to give up, it seemed that was the case.

Back with Takeru and Daisuke

"Intruder alert!"

Daisuke groaned, "Will they ever shut up?!"

Takeru shrugged, "Not as long as we're on their sight." He checked his radar, "Hikari-chan is close…" It had been around ten minutes since they entered Machinarium, so not yet. "Angemon!" He called his partner who was batting Guardomon coming their way without pause, "They're close! Hikari-chan and Tailmon are in B-02 street!"

"How familiar you are with this hell hole?!" Daisuke asked in wonder, struggling to catch up with Takeru. He swore the blond's legs were made of steel! Then again according to older kids they were the master of running for their lives, he guessed running for sport and for survival sake couldn't be compared.

Although… looking at how Takeru so relax dodging a missile aimed to his head, he had to wonder if Takeru's sense of danger was already broken due to exposure to digital world.

"An old friend lives here…" He said as he stepped aside, dodging another missile without batting an eye. Takeru didn't even seem to notice the spot he occupied a second ago was a smoking crater. "Oh and about your previous question about counter measure…"

"You want to tell me now?!" It was official! Takeru was getting crazy, he was the one who keep lecturing them about focus and subtlety and now he broke dozens of his own rules. Not that he had set a dozen rules on them.

"So you understand the situation." Takeru added with a grin. "You want to know what you're up against, ne?" Daisuke nodded. "You see… if we destroy their evil ring usually the controlled digimon would be back to their senses right?"

"Right." Daisuke echoed, he still didn't get what Takeru was getting at.

Takeru craned his neck at a Guardomon that had stopped moving. "So if there is a city full of controlled digimon army and we freed them, returning them to their former selves… what will happen? It's a simple math, go on…"

Daisuke contemplated his answer, recalling victims they rescued. If the digimon controlled by the bastard was freed, and there was a huge number of them in the same place… "OH! They will turn on him as an army too! They will be on our side!"

Takeru nodded, "As Miyako-san said, bingo Daisuke-kun… that's why to prevent that Kaizer set it so once Guardomon is disconnected from his control system they will shut themselves down to prevent us for turning them on him."

After this mess was over he didn't even want to think of the headache they had to go through to fix all Guardomon in this area. Well, if they did make it. He didn't want to blame Daisuke and others but they did throw his carefully laid plan upside down so he had to make it work with what he could do now.

"Ah! Hikari-chan!" Daisuke shouted pointing at flying feline that was in the middle of dodging a hoard of missiles from Guardomon.

Takeru narrowed his eyes, judging from how many missiles flying around them, it seemed they had at least a squad of Guardomon chasing them. That was too many for one intruder, so most likely Ken already noticed her presence and on purpose set a squad to make her panic. From this point on it would be a race for the tower and battle of tactic.

But first, he had to get Hikari away from them before Nefertimon got shot down. "Angemon!" He had to take a long path to get to the other side of this line of building where Nefertimon was flying. That was a waste of time so he grabbed Angemon's hand and flew with him.

"Oi!"Daisuke yelped as Flamedramon snatched him from the ground and jumped high to the sky. "Wait for me!" At the time like this Daisuke really envied their friends who had digimon that was comfy to hitch a ride on. Takeru seemed to be the most comfortable considering his partner was a winged horse, but even now… how the hell that guy was so comfortable hanging in the air like that?!

Daisuke's eyes widened when he saw what happened next.

Hikari was always sensitive towards Digital World and it citizen but not with her natural inclination towards them she could tell Nefertimon was getting sloppy when dodging Guardomon's missiles. She was exhausted, and all this running was wearing her down quickly. Nefertimon always had better stamina than her peers because of her experience but not even Nefertimon could dodge Guardomon's attack forever and minding Hikari's safety in the same time.

"Hikari! Duck!"

Hikari knew that voice and quickly pressed her body flat against Nefertimon's back, and a beam of light destroyed the missile that was aimed to her and Nefertimon. Hikari opened her eyes, and delighted to see a familiar winged figure. "Angemon!"

The angel digimon smiled at her, "You're alright…"

"Hikari-chan!" Another familiar voice called.

Hikari turned, "Daisuke-kun!" She exclaimed in shock when she saw him and Flamedramon hopped to one of the rooftop and she saw another familiar face. "Takeru-kun!" Of course he was here if Angemon does.

Daisuke grined at Takeru cheekily, "She called my name first!" He boasted

Takeru laughed softly, "Technically she calls Angemon first." Daisuke harrumphed in response.

Hikari swallowed as she watched the two boys from afar anxiously, as her digimon flew closer towards Angemon. She wondered if Takeru was still angry with Daisuke but most likely he was if Daisuke's action turning his face away from Takeru was anything to go by. Then again Daisuke was prone to sulk around Takeru.

"Nefertimon! Hikari!" Angemon's voice snapped her attention back to reality, and Nefertimon suddenly made a sharp maneuver to dodge something. Angemon was quick to assist, batting whatever attack coming their way with his staff. The attack never hit them but Hikari made a very basic mistake all Chosen Children dreaded to do since the day they could ride their partner. Never ever lose your hold on your partner when you're riding them, even if you crash your chance of survival was almost one hundred percent as long as you cling to them.

Hikari made that mistake, tired, sweaty hands after long flight she couldn't keep her grip on Nefertimon and fell. "Kyaaa!"

"Hikari!"

Then something warm caught her and the sharp pull of gravity stopped, she opened her eyes and saw Takeru smiling at her. "Are you alright?"

"Takeru-kun?" While his arm around her waist was pretty comfortable, it got her uncomfortable in another way. So she couldn't help but fidgeted.

He grimaced, "Erm… I am sorry but please don't move too much because the position we're in."

That was when she realized he had one arm around her waist while another was holding onto a small canopy protruding from the metal building. She was about to ask for their winged partners but then she heard sound of explosions and saw Angemon was holding Tailmon on his arms while fending of a squad of Guardomon with Flamedramon's help. At some point her digimon returned to default form and their digimon were busy, they were on their own down here and at least twenty feet from the ground.

She instinctively wrapped her arms around Takeru's neck , she was not scared of height but it reminded her of how close they were to death when Piedmon cut off the rope they were holding on to. "Takeru-kun… what should we do?" In the distance she could hear Daisuke was rambling about looking for ropes up there. Which very unlikely he could randomly find rope like she and Takeru did back in first adventure.

"Trust me, hold on to me tight and make sure don't bite your tongue." Takeru answered.

"What do you…" She trailed off nervously.

"Do you trust me?" Takeru asked.

Hikari nodded, "Always."

He grinned at her, "Here we go!"

What happened next would be forever in her mind because her heart almost exploded when Takeru let go of the canopy and they fell, surrendering to the pull of gravity. Takeru's hands then grabbed the flag pole protruding from second level of the metal building.

KLUNK!

The sound of bend metal echoed loudly on her mind, and then Takeru spun them 360 degrees vertically at least three times before he let go and they landed smoothly on the ground. Not really, but considering their legs touched the ground with nothing breaking it was smooth.

Hikari trembled, "Takeru… kun just… now… did we just…" Jump from twenty feet height and survived?

Takeru just laughed at her, and she resisted the urge to punch his chest for laughing at her. "Well… Angemon is never the best digimon as a ride, he seems to have a talent at dropping me and I get better at falling." He chirped innocently. "I learn all sort of things to make sure I won't die because of gravity…"

Well, that was the price for humanoid digimon partner. They were no good for riding.

"Ha ha ha…"

"Don't laugh!" She blushed a deep red, "So you know that I..."

Takeru smiled sadly at that, "Yes... I am really sorry for scaring you, I am not mad at anyone but myself." He assured her.

"But!" She stopped when she saw his eyes narrowed at something behind her, Hikari dared herself to turn around to see what he was seeing. She couldn't help but horrified at the sight that greeted her, a familiar humanoid digimon covered in silver metal armor with an evil ring on his neck.

"Andro…mon…" She tried to reach out, "Andromon… right? It's…"

Takeru pulled her back flush against him, "Don't!"

"But Andromon is…" Hikari tried.

"Is under Kaizer's control!" Takeru finished, "He can't hear you! He is dangerous now!"

"But!" She protested.

Then Andromon's mechanical voice interrupted them, "Under Digimon Kaizer's order… I shall eliminate intruders…" He announced.

This couldn't be… their friend, her friend Andromon was…

"Perish! Spiral Sword!

Kaizer's HQ

He was no idiot who couldn't tell that his rival was eyeing Machinarium, one of vital areas under his rule for quite some time. The most interesting part was, Takeru was not in hurry at all to take the city from him. So far Takeru had only been seen circling Machinarium like a hawk on hunt, with no intention to strike before a chance presented itself. Takeru was subtle, giving no sign of what he was planning to do to take such a huge area from him.

So when those three entered his Machinarium, and Takeru and the short haired girl were nowhere in sight he was pretty confused why they were here. However, they were obviously not there on Takeru's order. For one, the blond was not a fool to use obvious entrance-TV- to the city full of Guardomon patrolling. Second, not long after the girl with Tailmon followed them and frantically searching for her friends. Third, they had no strategy whatsoever against his Guardomon army.

It seemed those three slipped away from Takeru's watch and got themselves in trouble at the first opportunity. Those idiots… now he could tell the blond he called them that with legitimate reason, as it was understatement of century that only idiots would infiltrate a city with an army with three digimon, and through the front door to boot.

Oh well, there they goes back with their tails between their legs. Except… that short haired girl. Guardomon should have destroyed it after all of them escaped, because frankly Ken had no interest to deal with those idiots if they returned for the girl and ruined whatever Takeru had on his sleeves.

So when Takeru at last showed up he couldn't resist to call the perfect level digimon he had kept at the depth of metal city to go after him and his friends.

"Let's see how you fare against perfect level digimon... Ishida Takeru.." The Digimon Kaizer murmured with an amused smirk on his face as he watched Andromon confronting the two Chosen Children.

Then suddenly all screen on sight went blank and replaced by static.

Ken rose from his seat, Wormon squeaking uselessly in the background as usual. "What happened?! Wormmon!" Ken yelled at the green digimon, "You're so noisy!"

Then once against the image on the screen replaced and this time what appeared was a black faced digimon with two yellow eyes wearing a hood.

"Good evening, Digimon Kaizer..." The digimon greeted him.

"My name is Wisemon...researcher of Digital World and dimension traveller."

What the heck is that?

Me, refining my art of cliffhanger. Just so you know... it's an art LOL

BTW I am getting antsy of the decreasing number of review... while I am NOT really concerned how many I get what tip me off is how it gets fewer as I keep updating and makes me wonder is that means the quality of my writing gets worse. Tell me your opinion... about it, does this story gets better or worse? It's not the number of review I am concerned with but whether it's an indicator, a sign that I get worse because of speedy update and maybe I should keep update slow to MAKE SURE I produce good chapter instead of a fast one.

I think I am concerned for a good reason because there is another story of mine who also get this... so I can't help but wonder if that's the case OR what some people said, faster update means fewer review because less people feel inclined to do so because that means the writer will keep updating even if they don't.

Review is good motivation and ALL but not the sole reason I write... I just can't help but feel concerned if decreasing number means I didn't write as well as I did before because I THOUGHT I wrote better than say... one year ago ;_;

If the cause is what people tell me, well... never mind I will survive. If review is the only reason I write I will only update My Parallel Axis and Unsealing Legacy. I am the type of author who update what I want not the most popular story I have anyway... however maybe this will be a sign to stop here and gather more material. THIS IS NOT a THREAT, don't mistake it as one please! I do need it because I want more material on Ryo and Ken's adventure in swan game.

Ta ta... bye bye...