Kurata Shows His True Colours

"Merukimon!", Noguchi called out as he came running, and Falcomon flying.

Noguchi noticed the gaping wound in Merukimon's side: "Falcomon! Get help!"

"Toooo bad", Kurata gloated. "There's no help for him. He's a gonner!"

"You. Slimy. BASTARD!", Masaru called out, fists clenched. "I gonna do whatever it takes to make you pay for this!"

Kurata chuckled at this threat: "What're you gonna do? Sic your pet digimon on me? Dorumon isn't gonna be around much longer... Along with the rest of 'em"

"What?!"

"They're all going away forever. My plan is really quite simple: the elimination of all digimon".

"Elimination...", Masaru started.

"...Of all digimon?", Dorumon completed that thought.

"That's unbelievable!", Yoshi said. "You're seriously talking about wholesale genocide?!"

"What makes any man have such evil thoughts?", Thomas asked.

"Genocide is such a strong word, especially since digimon aren't a 'geno' (finger quotes) Anyway, I learned the true nature of digimon ten years ago. A digimon's first instinct is to attack any human on sight. Sure, some resist the impulse better than others, but, in the end, all of them will turn on you. It's like trying to raise a grizzly bear. Sure, a grizzly is cute when a cub, but when it grows up it's a dangerous wild animal. Digimon are no different.

"That's why it is imperative to destroy them before they destroy us. And with Merukimon out of the way, that job just became a good deal easier".

"You're wrong about digimon!", Yoshi contradicted. "There's proof they can live peacefully along side us".

"What about us?", Lalamon asked. "Aren't we living proof of what Yoshi's saying?"

"Yeah, Dorumon is the best friend I ever had", Masaru said. "I don't worry that he will ever attack me. If you and Merukimon had just listened to one another, this whole clusterfuck could have been avoided".

"Don't bother", Gaomon said, "don't waste your breathe on him, he's incapable of understanding".

"Why are you freaking out about this so much? I'm doing our world a favour by getting rid of the digimon..."

"Oh yeah! Maybe I should do the world a favour by eliminating a sick bastard like you!"

He ran forward.

"Gizumon-AT!", Kurata called out. Kurata's machine placed itself between Masaru and Kurata. "Fall back!", he ordered his company of mercs.

"What is this thing?", Masaru asked himself.

Kurata laughed: "It's Showtime! Let's give them a preview of Gizumon-AT's power..."

"Let's!", Masaru called back. "And I'll give you a preview of mine! It's fightin' time!"

He pulled out his digivice: "DNA full charge!"

Dorumon warp digivolve toooo …

… DORUGREMON!

"Metal Meteor!"

The Metal Meteor struck Gizumon-AT head on, and the strange purple and black digimon made no attempt to even dodge. The Metal Meteor did no damage that they could see. Gizumon-AT retaliated with some appendages that looked like springs. The big digimon dragon was lifted off his feet, thrown clear across the room, to strike the far wall high above them.

"Gizumon-AT took that Metal Meteor full on!", Yoshi called out. "There isn't even a scratch on him!"

"For now...", Masaru said.

"You should have gotten a full reading on its strength before jumping in like that", Thomas reprimanded.

"I don't need another one of your f'kin' sermons right now! I need your help!"

"DNA full charge!"

Gaomon warp digivolve toooo …

… MACHGAOGAMON!

Lalamon warp digivolve toooo …

… LILAMON!

"Machgaogamon!"

"You got it! Gaoga Tornado!"

At first, it looked like he was getting the best of Gizumon-AT. However when he went in for the kill with his Wing Knuckle... "It's gone?", he asked himself.

The answer came as an attack from behind: those "springs" that threw him to the floor.

"Machgaogamon!", Thomas called out, concerned. "Gaoga Tornado didn't faze it at all!"

"Lilamon!", Yoshi called out. "Use Un Deux Pollen!"

"Un Deux Pollen!", Lilamon launched this chemical attack.

It didn't work. This time, Gizumon-AT began spinning, its wings extended, and created a blast of wind that sent Lilamon joining the other two Ultimates on the floor.

"Lilamon!", Yoshi called out.

"No... way?", Masaru asked himself.

Kurata chuckled: "Attacks that paralyze and attack the consciousness won't work on Gizumon-AT because it isn't conscious".

"What?!", Masaru called out.

"Thaaaat's riiiight", Kurata explained. "I built it out of the remains of digimon I sacrificed for this very purpose".

Dorugremon gasped at hearing this.

"Noway!", Yoshi said in shock. "What kind of monster are you?"

"He destroyed innocent digimon to make a soulless killing machine", Thomas replied.

"Pretty good, huh?", Kurata said. "Even at a mere Champion level, Gizumon-AT has more power than all your Ultimates. Furthermore, it lacks all self awareness, all self doubt. Unlike your self aware digimon, Gizumon-AT does whatever want, whenever want. Without question or conscience, it follows my orders.

"Tell you what", he said, "I'll make you a deal. If you agree to do my bidding, I'll be gracious enough to allow your pet digimon to go on living".

"Whudda pal!", Masaru said with heavy sarcasm.

"Seriously, Masaru, what choice do you have? If you complain to Hashima, I'll tell him Merukimon attacked first. If you challenge my story, well, my men will back me up, and you will be prosecuted for treason for undermining my mission".

"I'll never support such an evil plan!", Thomas called back.

"Digimon are wonderful, living beings with hearts and minds. Using them the way you have is unforgivable!", Yoshi replied.

"KURATA! I'm gonna kick your ass clear into next week!", Masaru threatened.

"What. Ever. I'm growing tired of all this silliness... Gizumon-AT..."

"Merukimon, hang in there", Noguchi was encouraging.

"That blast from Gizumon-AT...", Merukimon said as he gripped the gash in his side, unsuccessfully preventing the data from leaking out. "It feels like my insides are on fire... For some reason, it won't heal..."

"Merukimon?", Falcomon asked.

"Listen to me, Noguchi..."

"Huh?"

"I've always had my doubts... About where you would be the happiest: here in the Digital World, or the Material World. Since you knew nothing of the Material World, I always wondered what would happen if – when – you met human beings for the first time. Would your sense of humanity be awakened, or was it buried forever? I wanted to know that ever since the day you arrived.

"Now I understand all my doubts were nothing to worry over. You won't have to choose, for your happiness depends on something else: it will come from making a world where humans and digimon can live in peace and harmony"

"Huh?", Noguchi asked.

"There was once a man who understood this as well as anyone could: Dr. Daimon"

Merukimon paused to remember that encounter with Suguru Daimon: the day they tested each other's strength and determination.

"This is all very new to me", Noguchi said. "Yukidorumon never told me".

"She had to know all along", Falcomon speculated. "Yes, of course, you recall the last words Yukidorumon spoke to you? She was about to tell you the truth, but never got the chance".

Noguchi could never forget that moment, regardless of how he tried: "You must make me a promise", she said, "I don't want you to lose your kind spirit, so promise me not to hate the Outworlders, because... because you are..." Yukidorumon never got to finish that thought.

Noguchi was snapped back to reality as Merukimon groaned: "Please forgive me... for all my failures and short comings... For all I got wrong... For all the unnecessary pain I caused you. For not living up to all the promises I made to Suguru and Yukidorumon..."

"Merukimon! Don't leave meeee...", Noguchi called out.

"Metal Meteor!", Dorugremon was once again thrown to the floor; Gizumon-AT completely untouched.

Machgaogamon had troubles of his own: Gizumon-AT got behind him again. This time, he was held fast by these tendrils that the artificial digimon trailed behind it. It attacked with high voltage.

"Lila Dagger!", Lilamon tried freeing him. Gizumon simply threw Gaogamon at her, knocking both of them to the ground.

Dorugremon finally got behind Gizumon, and slammed it into the ground.

"Nice one, Dorugremon!", Masaru congratulated. "It can't keep it up forever!"

Masaru discovered yet another ability, as Gizumon extended its wings and began to spin. It created a draft powerful enough to throw Dorugremon off. He was struck with these propellers, sending him to the floor, flat on his back. Kurata's creation then ceased attacking.

"Have I made my point yet?", Kurata asked. "Gizumon-AT is faster and stronger than your digimon. Give up now, while you still can".

"Yeah, right!", Masaru called back. "He's not so tough as you think!", he lied.

"Yannow, I'm growing pretty tired of your inability to listen to reason, Masaru. You're starting to remind me of your father, another hard-headed dipshit".

"What?!"

"Ten years ago, I warned your father about these digimon and the danger they posed to us. I recommended we take them out, right then and there. He refused. See where this has gotten us? Not only do they continue to invade the Material World, but their attacks have gotten progressively worse over the years. It's only a matter of time until they launch a full scale invasion. This is all because Suguru refused to listen to reason, his belief in appeasement instead of taking the fight to them before they could take it to us. I was right, I have always been right! We should wipe out all the digimon while we still have the chance!"

"NO! Maybe it wasn't my Dad's inability to listen, but your lack of courage!"

"What are you trying to say?"

"Digimon scare you, so you would rather destroy them instead of dealing with them fairly. I may be a bit too fast to resort to my fists, but I see every fight through to the end without cheating. All you ever do is inflict pain and suffering on everyone unfortunate enough to cross paths with you. Then you run away from the consequences of your actions, and that makes you a coward!"

"You really are your father's son", Kurata said with a hard edge of contempt, "and not in a good way. I was going to toy with you a bit longer, but you've changed my mind for me. I'm going to eliminate all of you along with your precious digimon. It will be reported as a horrible accident"

Kurata pulled something from a hip pocket.

"What's that?", Masaru asked.

"Gizumon-AT: digivolve!"

It was some version of their digivices, he saw.

Gizumon-AT digivolve toooo …

… Gizumon-XT!

"It... digivolved?", Masaru asked himself. The strangest thing was that Kurata didn't summon up any DNA, yet his creation digivolved.

Gizumon-XT was larger by virtue of a new midsection. This consisted of two gray spheres, the larger attached to the base from which trailed its tendrils, joined to a somewhat smaller sphere. To this was attached its head that still carried one yellow eye, and the red lens that focused that digimon destroying beam. There was something else: a silvery rectangular attachment on the top of its head. This being the source of a new energy attack.

Noguchi looked on, speechless, in horror.

"What do you think?", Kurata asked. "I used synthetic DNA to give it the ability to evolve. The synthetic DNA I installed gives it a connection to me. If you thought Gizumon and Gizumon-AT were powerful, you ain't seen nothin' yet. Now: on to Act Three".

That explained it, how Gizumon-AT could digivolve without the DNA charge.

Gizumon-XT stepped towards Masaru. Two LEDs blinked a couple of times. Dorugremon swept Masaru out of the path of a fierce energy attack that carved a wide furrow across the floor, and made a huge hole in the wall, just to the left of Merukimon's throne. It almost got Noguchi and Falcomon, but for Merukimon's covering them.

"What power", Thomas looked on in wonder.

"This isn't just bad...", Yoshi said. "It's horrible!"

"We can't beat him separately", Masaru said. "We have to merge all our strength, hit him with all we've got. OK? No way are we losing to a fake digimon!"

"Here I go", Lilamon announced. "Lila Shower!"

"Howling Cannon!"

"Metal Meteor!"

Gizumon-XT folded the wings into a shield. The combined attacks struck Gizumon-XT full force, blasting it across the room and through the wall. There was a tremendous blast as it struck.

"Take that!", Masaru said, as he figured this combined attack had done its job.

There was a stirring of the debris that had fallen inside the hole Gizumon-XT had disappeared into. It stepped into view once again.

"It can't be!", Yoshi said.

"It took them all on at one time, and it's still in one piece!", Thomas called out.

"Fine!", Masaru announced. "This fight has just begun!"

"It's useless", Merukimon said. "There's no way Suguru's son can win", he said as he began to struggle to regain his feet.

"This is my farewell, Noguchi..."

"No! Merukimon! Don't! You were my teacher! If you fight, you could corrupt all your data!"

Merukimon made his way to his feet, still grabbing at the wound in his side.

"It's too late for that, Noguchi. There is no recovering from this. I think you know that too. This is my farewell gift to you".

"Now I know: humans are evil! I didn't know they could be so horrible! I won't forgive!"

"Noguchi, look at him", Merukimon pointed to where Masaru was trying to fight Gizumon-XT himself. "Masaru is impulsive, and reckless, and, yes, maybe a bit foolish. However, he faces life head-on, with courage and honour. He's human, but not evil. He's human, just like you. You can't hate all humans without hating Masaru. Do you hate Masaru?"

"Masaru... he's the one who introduced me to my human mother and father. He... treated me nice. Not just him: Thomas, Yoshi, Chika, Masaru's mother... all were very good to me".

"See? You don't hate all humans, do you?"

Noguchi watched, horrified, as that Gizumon-XT fired off its main energy weapon, this time, aiming it at Masaru, Yoshi, and Thomas. They were all flat on their backs, Gizumon-XT coming in for the kill.

"Look at it, Noguchi. See what hatred does. Your choice: do you want to be like Masaru and his friends, or do you want to be like Kurata? Hate made him what he is".

"Merukimon, don't...", Noguchi said as he began to head into the fight.

"Noguchi... goodbye. Live as you were supposed to: as a human. A human with the heart of a digimon!"

With a scream, Merukimon gathered the last of his strength to run and leap at Gizumon-XT. He delivered a fierce blow with his fist, knocking the synthetic digimon to the floor. However, he took another hit from that beam that causes permanent deletion of any digimon who comes in contact with it. This time, it looked as though there were a malfunction. It wasn't a killing blow, but was the first hint that this Gizumon-XT had its weaknesses. It bounced as it hit, landing on its back before Kurata.

Merukimon didn't get off without consequences. His fist, then his entire right arm, began to disintegrate into raw data.

"Merukimon, why did you help us?", Masaru asked.

"I wanted to believe in a noble cause once again. Like when I knew your father. I want to believe that digimon and humans can make a better world together... for the both of us".

Gizumon-XT recovered, sat up, and fired at Merukimon.

"Peace and harmony with digimon?", Kurata laughed. "Never!"

"Stay strong, Noguchi", Merukimon had spoke his final words.

He disintegrated into data which reorganized itself into another self destructive digiegg.

Noguchi came down the steps from Merukimon's throne. There, he dropped to his knees. He bent over, crying for his fallen hero, mentor, surrogate father as Falcomon came to stand by his side.

"How dare Merukimon fuck up my master piece", Kurata was complaining as he surveyed the damage to Gizumon-XT. "Merukimon was a pain in my ass right up until the very end. It's so foolish for any digimon to believe it could defy the will of a human.

"A time when digimon and humans can live together peacefully?", Kurata chuckled. "What a silly notion. What a foolish and pointless cause to waste a life on. I can't stop laughing at the absurdity of it all".

Noguchi heard. He also heard Merukimon's last words as if he were being spoken to. He stopped crying and stood.

("Revenge time, Falcomon")

"Ummmm", Falcomon agreed with a nod.

"Well, we've toyed with all of you long enough, and I'm quite frankly bored with our little game", Kurata was saying. "Time to ring down the curtain. Prepare to destroy everyone", he ordered.

"KURRRR-RATA!"

"Huh?", he looked around.

"Noguchi?", Masaru asked himself. Noguchi and Falcomon were coming on fast. This time, DNA flared all around Noguchi.

"The boy?", Kurata asked.

"THIS ONE'S FOR MERUKIMON!", he said as he whipped out his digivice.

"DNA full charge!"

Falcomon warp digivolve toooo …

… POEMON!

"Digivolve all you want, for all the good it'll do you", Kurata dismissed.

"Merukimon taught me I shouldn't hate all humans. Just assholes like you! Assholes like you are the reason why we can't have nice things! Now Poemon!"

The large raven-like digimon, nearly the same size as his opponent, flew forward.

"Go Gizumon-XT!", Kurata ordered.

Gizumon-XT tried attacking with that energy beam that completely destroyed digimon, but Poemon grabbed its emitter with a foot and stopped the attack. He threw it into the side of the wall so hard it was stuck in the depression it made.

"Now, Poemon! Attack!"

"Nevermore!", he fired off this energy attack from his talons.

Gizumon-XT burst into data. Being that this was a synthetic "digimon", there was no digiegg.

"Now", Kurata said as one of his mercs pulled out a Space Oscillator.

"Kurata! Stop him!", Thomas called out. It was too late: they were too far off to catch him before he disappeared with his mercs into the digital portal.

They stood before Merukimon's throne.

"I will!", Noguchi said with determination. "I will live as a human with the heart of a digimon".

"You OK, Noguchi?", Masaru asked.

"Yeah"

"Good. Now let's get Kurata!"

The Material World
DATS HQ

"So they destroyed another of my creations", Kurata was saying to himself. "Oh well, I have many more... So. Many. Many. More".

He laughed maniacally.