Okay, so I am like super happy that people are enjoying this story so much. Reviews are very encouraging after all. They are soul-food for writers, wouldn't you agree? I want to thank one of my betareaders Magykool for helping me overcome my mini-writer's block. Thank you! Also, a huge thanks to my three betareaders, coolgamer, Nocturne of Eclipse and Magykool for betareading this chapter.
Chapter 14: Could it Be?
Veemon shifted from his sleep and opened his eyes to look at the clone. His vision was still a bit blurred and his thoughts drifted to Davis. He wished there was some way to get to him without hurting him more but how? These hybrids were strong, and he felt as if he couldn't think too clearly.
"Veemon?" The clone's voice said, quiet so the others wouldn't hear. "Why aren't you sleeping? You'll make the others suspicious."
Veemon shifted. "Too sore. Can't really sleep. I'm gonna go sit by the fire with Mimi and Sora."
The clone raised an eyebrow. "Are you trying to deceive me by telling them the truth?" He chuckled. "You can if you want but you may never see your real partner again if you do. We're stronger than you guys are right now."
Veemon shook his head, denying that accusation. "I'm not telling them anything. Come with me, if that's the case. It might look more believable since the real Davis would be a lot more concerned, given all the beatings I took back there." There was a dullness in his voice that was in complete contrast to his former cheerful personality, but he couldn't help it. He was a horrible partner and friend. He couldn't even save Davis because he was still very weak from being beaten leading his head to be very foggy and because the clone had promised even more pain for Davis if he tried to tell his friends the truth.
"You know, that's a good point," Clone-Davis said and Veemon was about to reply when he swayed a little causing the clone to reach out and catch him.
"Davis? Veemon?" Noriko's voice interrupted them as she walked towards them. "Veemon, are you ok?"
Veemon smiled a bit. "Yeah, I was just telling Davis that I can't sleep because I'm still too sore."
"Oh, well, Davis if you want to sleep, Lunamon and I can watch over him if he comes by the fire," Noriko offered. "It's not like either of us can do much right now while we're waiting on the others."
The clone shook his head. "Nah, it's fine. I probably won't be able to sleep, knowing Veemon's sore and in pain so I'll go join Mimi and Sora as well. You should rest though. You'll need to save your energy for when we do have to fight."
"We'll kick butt in our first fight!" Lunamon said enthusiastically causing Veemon to give her a somewhat shy smile.
"I'm sure you will," Veemon encouraged, still smiling at her enthusiasm. He liked her spirit, it reminded him of how he used to be during their past adventures. He cringed suddenly as he tried to move, his body shrinking to Chibimon.
"You really don't look so good, Chibimon," Lunamon said concerned, coming over to the small digimon. "Noriko, Davis, we should get him looked at by Joe."
Chibimon felt his eyes close as he found himself wishing the real Davis was here. They could do anything when they were together, after all. However, he just nodded, he had to keep going for Davis at least. "Maybe that would be best. Can we go Davis?"
"Course!" The clone said, patting Chibimon on the head. "You did go through a lot after all. Let's go wake Joe up, guys."
Cody looked around at the tunnel they had dug to escape and was glad they had managed to lose the enemy. Yolei could be reckless sometimes...of course, this time he didn't really blame her. Having a crest would give them a huge power boost after all.
"Should we go above ground now, Cody?" Digmon asked, interrupting his thoughts.
Cody was about to reply when a sudden chill ran through him. He had this odd feeling, he didn't know why but he felt as if TK needed him and was close by. He frowned a bit. "Go a little further and then we'll go above ground."
"Why Cody?" Yolei asked as Digmon obeyed, looking at Cody in confusion.
"This is going to sound a bit strange, but I have this odd feeling that TK needs my help and he's a bit further away," Cody admitted before shifting, he knew this sounded weird, but he just felt that what he was doing was right. "I know it sounds odd and a bit illogical, but I don't know, I feel as if it's right."
Yolei paused then shrugged, she remembered when Kari was in danger at the Dark Ocean, and she found her way to her. "You two are DNA partners so it's not really that odd. You'll need to tell Digmon where though."
Cody nodded. That made sense. Patamon and Armadillomon hadn't DNA Digivolved in a while and weren't as close as they once used to be, but he and TK still were, so half of the connection was still there. That was at least something to go off. "Okay, now Digmon."
Digmon brought them up to the surface, appearing right in front of the others. "Howdy guys! Need a hand?"
"Digmon!" TK cried, eyes widening, though he was glad to see them. "Cody, Yolei. I thought you guys were at the camp site."
"Cody had a feeling you were in trouble," Yolei said simply, narrowing her eyes at Gennai and Cody clenched his fists, glowering as well. He couldn't believe Gennai would do all of this. This was unforgivable, hurting their digimon just so he could remain safe.
"Perfect timing," Tai said, a scowl present on his face. "Gennai wants to kill Patamon to gain a good number with The Hollow."
"We won't let that happen," Cody said firmly, intent on protecting his friends. "Digmon!"
Digmon nodded. "I've got you covered, Cody! Don't worry TK, I won't let any of you down. Not again."
TK smiled, relief evident on his face. "Thanks, you guys."
Yolei raised her own D-3, intent to not be left out of the fight. "Digiarmor energize!"
"Hawkmon armour-digivolve to…Shurimon: The Samurai of Sincerity!"
Cody watched as Shurimon and Digmon pushed back Gennai and his hands clenched into fists. Gennai had guided them on the World Tour, he had always been there to help them then why? Why had he done this? Why had he turned his back on their partners and hurt them like this?
"Don't think that much, Cody," Patamon said, voice sad as he spoke interrupting Cody's thoughts, watching the young digidestined worriedly. "It'll only hurt you more if you do."
"Patamon," Cody murmured, looking at the digimon of hope. "I'm so sorry. I think I'm beginning to understand why Gatomon turned in the direction she did. I don't blame her for snapping. I'm sorry he did that to you. But you know we'll never turn our backs on you no matter how hard things get."
Patamon smiled. "I know that, don't worry. I didn't stop believing even when Gatomon did. I tried telling her that our partners would never abandon us, but she said that we had never thought that Gennai would either."
Cody nodded, he could understand that. Gennai had been so helpful that none of them would have even pondered the possibility that Gennai could betray them just to save his own skin. If the circumstances were not so dire, he would have asked why but right now, no explanation could explain this. He had tried to kill Patamon, had pushed Gatomon into snapping and who knows what else? No explanation was good enough for forgiveness.
A blanket of darkness surrounded it so deeply that it was almost tangible. A maroon robe around its shoulders, steely fingers coming out of the sleeves of the robe and piercing green eyes that scanned the area. As it walked on its skeleton feet, it could hear the screams of the digimon piercing through the air. Ah...like music to my ears.
"Palmon," Its voice sounded like a breath of ice being thrown into one's face, voice calm yet commanding, and it didn't need to shout to scare its victims.
The plant-digimon jumped, trembling from head to toe but had managed not to scream. How boring. Oh well, it had bigger fish to fry.
"Y-yes Master?" The digimon stuttered out, keeping her head bowed, not wanting to even see those haunting green eyes.
"Why is Agumon not eating?" The question was a simple one, but its eyes bored down on Palmon, promising pain if she did not give an adequate answer.
"H-he d-doesn't t-trust m-me," Palmon stuttered, keeping her head bowed as she still trembled at the gaze. "H-he's q-questioning w-why y-you w-want h-him t-to e-eat n-now...I-I e-even t-tried s-saying t-that h-his p-partner w-would w-want h-him t-to b-but h-he w-won't listen t-to m-me..."
"Ah," The calm voice responded, green eyes flashing at nothing. "So, in other words, you failed?" A wooden club appeared in its hands, a round black ball with numerous spiky needles coming from it as it moved forward. "Don't try to withhold your screams. It'll only make me angry." It struck the club down Palmon's back, causing her to fall to the ground, an alarmed scream leaving her lips.
"M-master please," Palmon coughed, pain lacing her tone. "Have mercy."
It ignored her and bore down the club again, each time it did, the hits became rougher, the music of her screams only encouraging it to continue because the music was so soothing. The digital world belonged to it and it alone. And it always would. Once the pathetic digimon had passed out and dedigivolved back to Tanemon, it ceased the torture and left the digimon there, continuing to look at the other prison cells. It saw Agumon breathing shaky breaths but still refusing to eat the food that had been given to him. Odd...how can someone so weak have so much strength? It was interesting, for sure but there had to be a reason this creature was chosen to be one half of Omnimon and it would find out why. However, digimon could not digivolve if they were weak or hungry.
"SkullSatamon," its voice spoke calmly, calling out to a nearby digimon. "I want you to return Agumon to his human partner, temporarily."
"Master," SkullSatamon said, clearly sounding shocked. "If we let him go, his partner will never let us lay a hand on him again."
A bored expression appeared on its face. "Is that so? Questioning me will get you nowhere." It raised its hands, its fingers transforming into sharpened, nail like claws as he struck SkullSatamon down the middle. The last thing that he heard was SkullSatamon's screams as he fell, digital blood gathering around him as he reverted to a DigiEgg.
"Meramon," it spoke now, tone more demanding as it called out to a second digimon now. "Go put the DigiEgg in a holding cell. His life can be put to better use and maybe next time, he will learn not to question my orders."
"Yes, sir," Meramon said bowing and it bore its eyes into the flame-man digimon.
"After that, return Agumon to Tai Kamiya," it added. "Make sure they are united but keep an eye on them. Or you will be put to better purpose too."
Meramon bowed, grabbing the DigiEgg that was once SkullSatamon, leaving the main room. Good. Everything was going according to its plan.