A/N: This chapter is dedicated to pokeme, for breaking the triple digit barrier for this story. Thanks man. Now, on with the fic!

Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon.

Less than Human

Chapter: 21/ Caught in the Crossfire

A blonde woman with her hair tied back in a neat bun sat at her desk in one of the many offices of the Hypnos agency, typing busily on her computer. Her focus was so intent on the line of programming that she was creating, tuning out the rest of the world around her in a way that was reminiscent of her own boss, Yamaki Mitsuo, that many would have been surprised to find her quite pleasant to talk to during those moments that she wasn't working, and in fact would have found her charming, friendly, and surprisingly easy going for someone who worked at Hypnos where stress, darkness, and secrecy was practically the name of the game as well as the spirit. Newcomers who did not know her all that well would have been surprised to find that she kept a photo of a child, her son, on her desk as they would not have believed her as actually having one or being fully capable of being a mother as well. Those who knew her on a day-to-day basis would have likewise been surprised, though for entirely different reasons that had nothing to do with how she was when working. After all, they knew her motto was 'business before pleasure', and given the type of environment that they worked in this came as no surprise.

The thirty-five year old woman who had been named from birth Amaya Abe had many layers. There were times where she worried those who were close to her as she pushed herself relentlessly into her work, more so in the past year but they could fully understand her reasons for doing so. At least, that's what they believed though they didn't know everything that was going on. Not even those who were closest.

Network scan complete, thought Amaya as she analyzed the incoming data that was continuously being archived by the Hypnos operators Riley and Tally. Amaya raised an eyebrow as she took note of the massive influx of data. Whoa. Quite the number we have tonight. Not as many Wild Ones as we saw during the Parasimon invasion and not even close to what came out during D-Reaper…

The woman reflexively gritted her teeth as she thought of that last one, and with the reaction came a memory of pain…and darkness. She pushed it to the back of her mind almost instantly.

…But nothing at all that I'm searching for. Did the pattern just disappear when it went back? He promised that he'd return and see me…when things were…settled

Another memory came to mind, and an icy crawl made its way down Amaya's back. This one too she repressed with some effort. Amaya sighed and typed a few more commands so as to get a better idea as to what was going on as she continued downloading and recording the information.

This should be where Yamaki orders Yuggoth to be deployed…

Amaya's prediction soon rang true as the familiar data signature of Yuggoth appeared on the screen and connected with the multiple signals that threatened to breach the barriers between the worlds. Amaya smiled softly, almost smugly as data patterns were broken apart and scattered like dust in the wind.

Good riddance to bad rubbish, thought Amaya coldly, and unknowingly to herself as her gaze briefly glanced at the photo of her son, her only child before returning to computer's monitor. Suddenly Amaya frowned darkly. Hold on…what's going on here? Some of those signals aren't returning to the digital world. In fact, it looks like they're…

Amaya gave a cry of surprise as suddenly alarms started blaring all over Hypnos, and the sounds of explosions could be heard above their and that of startled employees clamor.

"TERRIERMON!!!"

Henry's shout resounded upon the air as Sangloupmon erupted from the rabbit dog digimon's shadow, light reflecting off of the metal blades of the wolf's claws, giving emphasis on their keenness. Time slowed to a standstill as Sangloupmon stood poised over Terriermon, claws raised and ready to finish him off once and for all as he stood there gawking in surprise. Henry had no time to slash a card to aid his partner. He didn't even have time to find one. In his minds eye he was back in the parking garage that he had entered back when Rika was still attempting to load data out of Guilmon. Terriermon had intervened at the precise moment that Renamon was firing her attack. Though that was a long time ago and Terriermon had survived that encounter, the same fear of losing his partner ran through Henry's mind, and it all amounted to the same thing.

Time's up.

"Sticker Blade!" Shouted Sangloupmon as he brought his claws downwards. At the same time Henry burst forward, completely ignoring the white light that flared to life from his digivice. The same light that encompassed Terriermon as Sangloupmon's claws descended towards their ultimate destination.

"NOOOO!!!!"

D-I-G-I-V-O-L-U-T-I-O-N

"TERRIERMON, DIGIVOLVE TOOO…GARGOMON!"

The sphere of data that had formed around Terriermon's body burst apart, revealing a large, green and white furred humanoid animal with blue denim pants, an ammunition belt slung across his chest, and a pair of gatling guns fixed to his wrists where hands should be. Being quite familiar with this form, Terriermon, now in his Champion level mode of Gargomon, brought up one of his gatling guns to block Sangloupmon's attack while bringing back the other. Sparks flashed as Sangloupmon's blades clashed with Gargomon's gun barrel. Grinning, Gargomon pushed his other one forward as green flames licked at his barrels. A second later his fist made contact with Sangloupmon's armored face and the wolf was sent crashing backwards, knocking over various computer equipment in the process.

Thank you…

Henry let go of a breath that he didn't know that he had been holding when he saw that his partner was still alive. He didn't take long to celebrate as it looked as though the battle was still on. Sangloupmon was fast recovering from Gargomon's attack, despite the fact that it had been unleashed point blank and had been vaccine based to boot (Sangloupmon, being a virus, was especially susceptible to Gargomon's techniques). The situation was also quite perilous in that they were stuck fighting in a room full of civilians, never mind the fact that it was taking place inside of Hypnos.

Yamaki's not going to be happy, thought Henry sarcastically, feeling some ludicrousness in that thought. He had more important things on his mind and in front of him at this moment; worrying about Yamaki's emotional mindset once he found out just what was going on in his building was the least of his worries right now, especially since his father was there as well. If his father got hurt…

"Gargomon!" Called out Henry, pushing the thought to the side for the time being so that he could think clearly. "We've got to get this fight outside! Now!"

"I hear ya Henry," cheered Gargomon as he kept his guns fixed on Sangloupmon, who was presently circling the Champion vaccine. Gargomon didn't dare fire just yet. There were still too many scientists and technicians who were hiding in all the wrong places. "I'm thinking a little power boost is in order here…"

"You said it," said Henry as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a newly formed Blue Card. "It's time to take out the trash!"

"Jeez Henry. And you say that I'm too much of an action man…and I'm a dog!"

Sangloupmon merely snorted as he listened to the banter of the human and digimon, trying to ignore the pain that he felt coursing through his body. Gargomon's attack had hurt him pretty bad for something that was unleashed at the last minute. As much as he hated the idea of doing so he was going to have to play a much smarter game here if he was to survive.

"What's the matter?" Chided a voice nastily in his mind. "I thought that you were going to do whatever it took to help prepare the way for Exodus. We all agreed that it was the best and more importantly the only way to destroy Yggdrasil's servants. You wanted to rain fire upon the Royal Knights…this is your chance to make it all happen. And yet here you are, losing. Pretty pathetic if you ask me…"

Shut up, thought back Sangloupmon. I know what I have to do!

"Then stop dawdling and show me then. We don't have all day you know. The Royal Knights are coming after our comrades. We need to give the humans all the motivation that they need to unleash their secret program."

As if you couldn't do that yourself?

"They needed assistance to make it a reality. Besides, my powers have their limitations. The Tamers, and even that fool Shibumi would know that if they suspected me and knew what I was. It's my nature. But enough small talk. You're the one in a position to do something. So do it already."

For someone who has as much power as I've seen you have you sure are an enigma. At any rate, consider it done.

"DIGI-MODIFY!" Shouted Henry as he slashed the blue card through his D-Arc. "MATRIX DIGIVOLUTION ACTIVATE!"

Sangloupmon leapt forwards as light once again enveloped Gargomon and a sphere of data materialized around his body. Snarling, Sangloupmon jumped into the air, his claw blades glinting in the light as he executed his signature attack.

"Sticker Blades!" Sangloupmon shouted as he hurled a barrage of tiny blades from his body at the same moment that Gargomon burst forth from his data sphere, transformed into the armored, emerald colored, Ultimate level digimon that the vampiric wolf recognized as Rapidmon. As Gargomon, Sangloupmon's attack would have had a chance of deleting the offending dog-bunny from existence, but as Rapidmon his attacks were now effectively rendered useless against him.

Too bad that Rapidmon was not his target.

"HENRY!"

Henry fell as he felt something roughly shove him to the side at the last moment. Glimmering blades surged past his head and a cry rang on the air. Henry gritted his teeth as his elbow struck the floor on his funny bone, but he fought to keep from losing himself in the sickening pain that drove its way up his arm. Struggling to get back to his feet, Henry blinked bewilderedly as he tried to regain his bearings. Suddenly all rationality in him froze as his eyes found the inert form that had just earlier saved him at the last minute from Sangloupmon's attack. Blood was starting to pool on the floor beneath the man who had leapt to his aid.

No… Henry's mind whispered as it tried to deny what he was seeing. It can't be!

Dad…

"Sticker Blade!"

Ryo and Monodromon exited the subway tunnels and glanced around to get their bearings. Monodromon tugged at the clothes that Ryo had let him borrow, a holdover habit that they had picked up some time ago from a friend that they thought could be trusted. That had been a long time ago, practically a lifetime from Ryo's point of view but the effects of that period in the Legendary Tamer's life were still noticeable and was one of the reasons why he had never fully opened up to any of the other Tamers, even Rika as it could easily be said that she was his closest connection to the world outside of his father and Monodromon. But that was neither here nor there right now. Right now their destination was the twin towers of the Shinjuku government building where the agency of Hypnos lay, supposedly in secret though it enjoyed that to a far lesser degree then in times past thanks in no part to D-Reapers invasion of the real world. Their reason for heading in that direction was because, in Ryo's words, their past was catching up with them. Monodromon shivered a little as he recalled the dark fear that had fallen over his heart when his Tamer had uttered that sentence.

I thought that everything with Milleniummon was done and over with, thought Monodromon as he walked with his partner, ignoring the strange looks that they were getting from people due to his short size and obvious reptilian features that had not been hidden by the hoodie that Ryo had given him. I should have known better, even after that jogress I had forced on him. Somehow he never vanishes entirely. He just sleeps for a little while until he finds a new shape for himself to take. And that's when things will get interesting.

Monodromon looked up at the sky sadly.

I wonder how much longer it'll be this time? Ryo said that he's seen some signs of Milleniummon coming back…taunting him with dreams, cards, and ghosts from our past, as if wanting to remind him constantly of his existence. Not too smart to give your enemy a heads up that you're about to make a comeback, but then he always was overconfident in his abilities. Comes with being a Digital God I suppose with mastery over time and space. I wonder if we're going to involve the other Tamers, and if so, how will they react to the news? Ryo's never been one to completely open up to them, not even Jeri when she dropped by to see us after that fight with Matadormon, and even though he jokes around with Rika he doesn't go out of his way to tell her anything about himself. He has his reasons I guess, but I wish that he didn't keep things to himself so much.

Monodromon sighed mentally. In the past, both here and at his old home, groups had always hung together, drawing strength from each other and becoming a team that always stood together no matter what. With the exception of one friend, perhaps the only one that he had ever trusted, Ryo had never been a part of a team before. Sure, he had fought alongside such groups, allying with them whenever the situation warranted but the fact stood that he and Monodromon were by and large alone in their struggles; their destinies forever caught up with that of the digital worlds and vice versa. As near as they could tell they were alone in what they did and could never draw strength from any other except themselves, a complete turnaround from the way that the digital world normally did things. Monodromon wanted to say that they were part of the Tamers team, and that they didn't have to fight alone, but harsh experience had taught them otherwise.

In many ways this saddened Monodromon, who sometimes felt that destiny had been far too demanding with the Legendary Tamer, and that he himself was responsible for Ryo's never-ending isolation from others who could help him and offer him friendship and love to comfort him when things got rough. They were things that Ryo wanted as well, but due to experience, and destiny, those things were to be held at arms length lest they be taken from him. Had they known Rika beyond that one card tournament and later in the digital world, they would have been surprised by the similarities that they had between them other then skills and digivice colors.

Rika always talked about how we could all choose our own destinies, thought Monodromon, remembering the Digimon Queen that Ryo seemed to have taken such a shine to since meeting up with her again in the digital world. Sometimes though…sometimes it's not always like that. Sometimes it's like the destiny chooses you.

Monodromon was snapped out of his thoughts as Ryo's blue colored, white trimmed digivice suddenly gave a cry of alarm, the screen flashing red and green as it picked up the signal of a Wild One bio-emerging into the real world. Ryo brought out his digivice and frowned at it before looking up at the sky, seeing if he could get an idea as to where the trouble was coming from. The fog that suddenly appeared off in the distance was all the clue that he needed.

"We've got company," said the Legendary Tamer in a hard tone.

Impmon sat on the top of a stone gargoyle, looking at the small ball of fire that he had hovering above one, crimson glove covered finger. The flame sat there for a moment before rotating in a circle, as though it were matching the contemplativeness of the diminutive virus digimon's thoughts. After a few minutes of idly doing nothing more but that continuous, circular motion Impmon snuffed the flame out and scowled.

So that's it, huh? Thought Impmon, not for the first time. Just like that? The one chance that I have to make things right for Jeri and I don't even get that?

Impmon had been in this rut of thinking for quite some time now, beating it around in his mind almost continuously for hours on end. His Tamers were worried about him due to the darkening of his mood since he had last seen them. They had tried their best to cheer him up after having guessed that things hadn't worked out for him, and he had tried his best to be cheered up knowing that that was what Jeri would have wanted him to do. But…there was still something in him that bothered him. Impmon looked down at his gloves and scowled at them, as though their red color was in a way reminding him of the blood that he had on his hands in regards to the fate that he dealt to Leomon, Jeri's partner. Not a day went by where he didn't regret what he had done, but for a time he had found the strength to live with his actions, and by knowing what he did and recognizing it as being wrong, use it to make him a stronger, better digimon from what he had been. Gone was the selfish Impmon who had badgered the Tamers and then tried to kill them in exchange for power, but his shadow remained on his soul, and now because of what had happened at Hypnos it seemed that nothing would ever remove the stain of his actions.

Impmon hammered his fist on the concrete statue that he sat on, clenching his eyes shut and gritting his teeth. Anger flared in his heart as he recalled the happiness that Takato had upon discovering that his partner was no longer dead. As much as he tried to not be upset over the matter, he couldn't help but hate Takato's good fortune.

Why do things have to be this way? Impmon thought angrily to himself. Why does Takato get to have his partner back but Jeri doesn't? It's just not fair!

Impmon growled in frustration as he got to his feet and paced around angrily on the limited space that he had available on the Gargoyle's head. He felt a sense of futility in his thinking. After all, if the universe were fair in anything that it did then there wouldn't be any pain. No inequalities, nothing that was like how things were either in the digital world or here in the real world. He disliked the fact that that was how the world worked but was powerless in changing it to be otherwise. And from what he knew from experience, forcing the issue tended to make matters worse, so what was a mon to do exactly? He wanted to make Jeri happy, but being denied the ability to return that which he had taken from her he was stuck. And Takato…as much as he hated the fact that Takato's luck had been far better then Jeri's he couldn't bring himself to resent the Tamer, his partner, or anyone for it. And not only that, he knew full well that he shouldn't. After all, he had already been guilty of one sin, that of gluttony. He didn't want to be guilty of envy as well.

I'll try to figure somethin' out, thought Impmon in an attempt to renew his determination to help Jeri however he could. No matter what, I'll make it so that she'll be happy again.

Impmon's thoughts were interrupted as he heard something that sounded like a soft thump, like an explosion off in the distance. Looking up he spied the familiar form of Calumon flying in the air, coming from the direction of Jeri's house and seemingly heading towards Rika's. Cocking his head to one side, Impmon tried to figure out what the Creampuff was doing here when he was supposed to be with Takato back at Okinawa. Realizing that he wasn't going to be getting any answers by just standing there and gawking, Impmon took one step forward as he prepared to follow the diminutive creampuff of a digimon…

…Only to freeze up as a fog of digital data suddenly materialized around him.

Oh you have got to be kidding me…

Turning around with a scowl on his face a flash of light swiftly enveloped him and within seconds, the much larger form of Beelzemon stood, his three eyes scanning the area for any potential hostiles while his claws twitched. Soon enough a form began to take shape in the epicenter of the fog. For some reason he had a sense of foreboding from the humanoid figure that he saw. After a few more seconds a gust of wind blew the fog away, and revealed what was most definitely a digimon fashioned as something akin to a knight. It was thin and wiry with a mask obscuring its facial features; the pink colored armor that it wore was formed as such so as to suggest a feminine shape to its body, and a gold colored shield covered its right hand. Yellow ribbons were attached to its arms and shoulders, perhaps as some kind of display, though for some reason Beelzemon had an idea that they were anything but.

Beelzemon frowned as he cautiously took a step forwards. The knight looked to be badly beaten, but even though it was presently lying on the ground, seemingly helpless he knew from experience with Gallantmon that knights were notoriously hard to beat down, and to think that this one would be helpless was something that was not to be readily believed if one had the desire to not have their data being blown to its constituent components and then loaded. Nature tended to favor the swift and strong, and though luck was said to favor the foolish, it could not be counted on forever nor should it be depended on.

Still, a closer look was required to see if this digimon knight was all right.

Beelzemon got as close as he believed was safe before speaking out.

"Hey! You all right?"

Silence answered him, and for a moment, Beelzemon allowed himself to believe that the knight was truly unconscious.

The thought lasted little more then two seconds.

With a speed that was almost impossible to believe, a pink and violet blur slammed into Beelzemon's stomach, knocking the wind out of his lungs and throwing him backwards. As he crashed hard on the rooftop, Beelzemon heard the harsh, feminine chuckle of the knight who was now walking towards him as though nothing had ever been wrong with her.

"Why of course I'm all right, my dear. Could be better but that's just how things roll sometimes. Now you're not the target that I'm looking for, but Demon Lords such as yourself are always a wonderful substitute. Curious. I thought that we had banished your ilk to the Dark Area. This time there will be no such oversight…"

Someone want to rewind this scene and tell me what the heck is going on here? Thought Beelzemon as he struggled to his feet, just in time to see that familiar, pink and violet blur come rushing towards him. Beelzemon sighed.

Didn't think so. This is going to hurt…

"Fist of Athena!"

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