Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon. Characters; Lexy, Benji and Tilly (KumoFuzei), Amelia (Somethingdictionaryrelated), John (tobiisagoodboy94) Kara (FallenAngel01) and Rocky (me)

A/N – This is a belated chapter – apologies, I was out with my Mum because it was her day off

Chapter 21 – Alexis Jackson

I felt completely immobilised as I lay on the bed which was being whisked about the DEPT headquarters. It stopped when it entered a metal room. It had a high ceiling and as my head fell to the right, I saw two glass cylinders connected by a trail of different coloured cables.

"Ow," I mumbled as I felt a sharp stabbing pain in my arm, which, within moments caused the feelings to return to my arms and legs.

With the feeling back, I took my chance to run for it – but as soon as I swung my legs off the bed, two soldiers grabbed either arm and dragged me towards one of the glass cylinders. Still feeling slightly groggy, I fought back and lashed out with my legs. I kicked and screamed, hoping that I could get away because I knew that if they put me in the cylinder, then I would definitely never see Iontramon again. Rocky had told me about the girl that Kara's family fostered for a while – Hope, who lost her Labramon when she was put in the machine.

"No! Put me down!" I screamed, kicking out at the soldiers. It was hopeless – they were far stronger than I was.

A less than attractive scientist opened the door to one cylinder – the soldiers sent me scattering forwards into it, slamming my head against the glass. There was a clicking sound, like a lock being put on the door. The pain forced me to the floor where I cradled my head. The slam of another door made my head jerk to the other cylinder – Iontramon was trapped in there.

"Iontramon!" I called out, thumping the glass with my fist.

"Lexy," his shout sounded quiet, but I could still hear it.

But hearing him was enough to make me fight. I lashed out with my feet, kicking the glass with the heel of my boots. Even though they weren't designed for running, I was grateful for the point of the heel. I kept lashing out, jerking my foot towards the same point. The scientists outside were running about frantically – probably searching for some way to stop me that wasn't inhumane.

Then I noticed it. A tiny crack in the cylinder – that was what was making everyone so frantic. It spurred me on to completely obliterate the machine. The DEPT needed to pay for what they've done – for what they did to Hope.

I screamed as I threw my weight into the cylinder, hearing another fracture in the glass. Stepping back, I braced myself for another kick with as much force as I could behind it. As soon as my boot connected with the glass, I practically went straight through it, falling to the ground and being showered on by fragments of glass.

"Lexy!" Iontramon shouted, with panic in his voice.

Without even thinking, I planted one hand to the floor and jerked it back. On my palm, was a small chip of glass that had cut my skin and now looked more like a ruby as blood coated its surface.

As the machine had malfunctioned, the locks had broken, and the door of Iontramon's 'prison cell' opened. He bounded over to me, avoiding the glass and climbing up my back to my shoulder.

"We have to get out of here," he whispered in my ear.

"I know, but if you haven't noticed – we're surrounded by a whole load of DEPT soldiers holding their really nasty looking purple beam guns pointed right at me. At us."

"Ah…"

"Yeah, ah…"

The scientist who had confined me to the cylinder came forwards, forcing his way through the circle of soldiers to the glass with my blood on it. Using some tweezers, he picked up the piece of glass and put it in a small test tube.

"Excellent – this should do nicely," he mumbled.

I lurched forwards, grabbing the wrist that held the test tube. "What for?"

I didn't hesitate in digging my nails into his skin. "What for?"

A chain reaction of clicks from the guns the soldiers held made the scientist smirk.

"Nothing you need to know." He pulled his wrist from my grip. "Go and see that General Nillock is informed about this. It seems that his plans may have to be put on hold."

"Right away-"

"And tell him the samples have been contaminated."

Crap, that meant they knew about the receptionist. He was in danger.

I felt like the whole day had fallen to pieces. Ever since I found out I was a Digidestined, I never expected just how much it was going to affect my life now. And I had gotten to know Iontramon so well, that I just couldn't imagine life without him.

"Lexy!" I heard Rocky call out to me, he rushed towards me in an state of shock. "What are you doing here?" Rocky picked me up off the floor and squeezed my shoulders.

"I was going to your house and then I went to Tilly's… Where General Nillock found me and Benji." Knotting my fingers around Rocky's jacket, I began to feel my voice quiver. "I've put him in danger, Rocky – is he alright?"

"Don't blame yourself, Lexy. It's not your fault." Rocky shook his head. "We have to get everyone out of here now." Out of the corner of his eye, he must have seen the shattered remains. "You may have delayed the DEPT for a while, but there isn't going to be a lot of time left. It's now or never."

"But how?" I whispered quietly. "Rocky?"

"I don't know, I'm thinking…" Rocky snapped abruptly.

Anger built up inside of me – I thumped him on the chest with my fist balled up.

"Hey!" he squeaked, before a grin crept across his face.

I watched as his eyebrows jerked up and then relaxed – like he was telling me not to worry. He then pushed me sharply.

"What was that for?" I yelled angrily, catching the attention of the soldiers and scientists in the lab. Screaming a little, I threw myself at Rocky, causing us to hit the floor – fortunately where no glass lay littered on the ground.

We playfully grappled with one another, which forced the soldiers to intervene and pull us apart. The pair of us still struggled and fought against the soldiers.

"Enough!" the booming voice of the General filled the room, making my cousin and I freeze.

General Nillock grabbed us both in either hand, his thick fingers digging into my collar bone. "You have given me far too much hassle now. And I have had just about enough of it. You!" he shouted at one of the soldiers who stood up straight the moment he was addressed. "Go and get the other children, now!"

I flinched with every shout, trying to ignore the beads of spit that exploded from his mouth and fell to the floor. Slowly glancing towards Rocky, we exchanged a lot that felt like everything was going to be a little harder than we had originally thought.

The room fell silent and any glances we shared ceased – the pain was still digging my defined collar bone. I wanted to cry out in pain, but I didn't want show it was hurting me, I had to be strong for the others.

"So glad you could come and join us." General Nillock kept a stern face as Kara, Tilly and Benji were marched into the laboratory with their Digimon wearing these weird neck cuffs – apart from Gummymon who must have been too small for one.

"Candlemon!" Rocky cried out when he saw his partner had a metallic band just above its waxy arms. "What have you don't to him?"

"You're going to have to be patient with me, Mr Walker, because I'm losing mine." The General let go of me and I felt the need to zip Iontramon up in my jacket, where he'd be safe- or at least safer.

"Okay – I've been generous, but now it is time for some cooperation. And if you fail to cooperate, then your partners may just feel a little… A little jolt." His tone sounded threatening, and I just didn't want to mess with him.

I was just so thankful that Iontramon didn't have one of those wicked looking cuffs on him – I don't think I could keep up a strong front if he was feeling a 'jolt' which definitely referred to an electrical shock. I wouldn't think twice about the General doing something like that.

"So, are we all going to get along now?" General Nillock frowned at us, his eyes moving sharply between each one of us. "Well?"

"Never!" Tilly snapped, forcing herself towards the general, only to be restrained by the soldier that gripped her.

"Oh dear – I guess you're going to have to be persuaded a little more." He glared at one of the scientists who was hiding by the door. "Do it," he said with no emotion.

The scientist pulled a small handheld device from his lab coat pocket and pressed one of the buttons on it.

A roar of pain passed Liomon's strong jaw as the neck cuff lit up – thus shocking her. The cub collapsed on the cold floor of the lab and her partner lurched for the general once more in anger.

"So, will you cooperate now?" General Nillock strode towards Tilly who he towered above.

"No!" Tilly spat, maybe a little hastily.

I don't think she was expecting what happened, to happen.

Liomon screamed out as the button was pressed and held down for longer. I couldn't watch as the little Digimon writhed in pain as electrical shocks were sent rippling along her strong flank.

"Please stop it!" I yelled, staring up at the general, feeling a watery ridge begin to build up at the bottom of my eyes. "You have to stop hurting the Digimon…"

"We aren't hurting them – we are protecting them."

"You've got a funny way of showing it, mate," Rocky muttered, getting up to his feet and boldly standing up straight. "How is shocking them protecting them? I'd love to know."

"Well – these Digimon are creatures who ought to stay in their own world. You see, many years ago, I went to their world, the Digital World and saw devastation that would – in time – come to our world if we didn't do something to separate the connection between our worlds. So, by capturing yours and giving them a little shock will weaken them – making it easier to send them back to where they came from."

Kara tore herself from the grip of the soldier. "What about her? Will you tear her Digimon away from her?"

I looked to the general and watched the twitch of his lip.

"I know about her – I've seen what happened all those years ago… In the lab with Ms Wallis- you know exactly what I mean so-"

"That is entirely irrelevant Miss Hamilton."

Why do you lie?

A voice echoed into the lab – I looked around and saw the only other people in there were the DEPT soldiers and few scientists that had been investigating the damage I had done to their machine.

But I recognised that voice, I had heard it once before. It was the voice that told me that the hospital played an important role for the Digidestined children somehow – this voice belonged to Wisemon.

"Wisemon?" Rocky murmured, a smile creeping across his face as he looked to Kara who nodded.

"Who said that?" General Nillock spun around frantically, searching the laboratory for the owner of the voice.

Someone you should fear… Someone who can show you what you've tried to hide… Someone who can show the children what you fear.

I smiled as the general gritted his teeth in fury and irritation – he shouted a string of abuse and ordered the soldiers to find the source of the voice.

"What are you laughing at?" General Nillock glared at me and Rocky.

We couldn't do anything except laugh.

They only know who I am. They are aware of my power. They know what I can do.

"I don't believe- and stop talking in these riddles of three!"

Temper temper, Hunter Collins. Now let's set a few ground rules first. You will release the children and their partners. You will leave them well alone-

"Who are you to give out orders?" General Hunter Nillock screeched. "Show yourself!"

Just in front of the general, appeared Wisemon, looking just as I had remembered him.

There – now you know that I am who you thought I am, you will follow my orders.

"Like that's going to happen…" Within seconds, Hunter Nillock pulled out a sleek handheld pistol like weapon.

It whistled – like it was charging up for something. There was a sci-fi style voice that filled the lab.

I tried to run forwards, but Rocky grabbed me around the waist, restraining me.

When my eyes focused, the now wispy silhouette of Wisemon was slowly disappearing from my sight.

"No!" I screamed, straining my voice. "You monster – you monster!" My breathing quickened as the rage began to build inside.

"Leave it, Lexy… We have to get everyone out of her first," Rocky whispered sternly. "Let it go – you can avenge Wisemon later, but not now."

"Okay." I closed my eyes and swallowed the lump in my throat.

Iontramon squirmed inside my jacket, eager to come out – but I wouldn't let him, not after I had just seen Wisemon become obliterated so easily by the general.

"Stop it," I whispered. "Stop it!" The volume of my voice increased, echoing off the walls of the laboratory.

The weapon in the general's hand twitched and was now directed at me and Rocky.

I could feel Rocky's grip tightening around me. The room fell silent, apart from the gentle grunts and growls the others made as they tried to free themselves.

"Now, you should know why you have all been brought here. As you are now aware of the power of our weapons, it is important that you know the truth. All those years ago, when I was just eighteen, I ventured to the Digital World with the scientist you know as Amelia Wallis. We saw the effects of some devastating occurrence which brought me to the conclusion that the connection between our two worlds must be severed. My father taught me that the two worlds cannot live in harmony. So after he died, he left me this. I enlisted Ms Wallis to head up the research, unaware of its true intentions. Now the vessel that is intended to carry out this task has become tainted. Tainted with a virus from that world. You, I mean, your blood can save the vessel – so it is that that I must take."

"Where is this vessel?" I asked bravely when no one said a word.

"Somewhere you won't find her."

"You've already had our blood – the receptionist took it from us…"

"Is that so – it's peculiar as to why your sample and Benjamin Olivier's match a sample from our work force…"

"That's not possible – there must be a reason why. Our blood was taken and that's that," I protested weakly. "Maybe there is some kind of error… A cross contamination?"

"No. That is not what has happened, but I am also missing some samples too. Tell me, where is Johnathan Bradley?"

"Somewhere you won't find him," Kara piped up with spite and disgust in her voice as she mimicked the general's words.

"So, Hunter Collins… You chose to hide quite a bit, didn't you?" Rocky stepped back a little, taking me with him in an attempt to put some distance between us and the weapon aimed at us. At least that way, accuracy may give us a chance of survival.

"But enough, it's time for us to sleep now. Goodnight, children…"

I felt a sharp stabbing pain my neck, like a pin prick. My legs buckled and I passed out, as if the world had swallowed me whole.

When I awoke, I was in my own bed, still wearing the clothes I had on whilst we were inside of DEPT. My heart lurched as I patted my chest, hoping to feel Iontramon.

"Iontramon?" I looked about the room, searching for my little blue Digimon. "Where are you, little blue otter?" Panic stricken breathing took over me. "Mum!" I called out hastily, but no one answered. "Mum!" I yelled louder, only to hear thumping footsteps coming up the stairs.

"Geez, Alexis… The neighbours will think that you're being strangled!" my older half-brother, Douglas called out as he came up the stairs to my room. "What is with you, Alexis? First, you're dropped off unconscious and totally out of it on the doorstep by some black van and now you're screaming out about some blue otter… Do you have a clear explanation at all?" He raised one eyebrow, beckoning me for an honest answer. "You got nothing."

I slowly sat up, staring at Douglas with wide eyes. "No, I've got some explanation – I just cannot tell you right now. Not now, and maybe not ever…"

"Please, with the riddles. You can tell me, Alexis – I promise."

"I- I…" I couldn't utter another word, I didn't know what to say to him – I could have told him about everything. Everything about the DEPT and what they did; everything about Iontramon, and everything about being a Digidestined and the Digital world. But I couldn't, I just couldn't.

Then we heard the hammering downstairs on the front door.

My brain did what it had started doing recently – it had immediately thought of the worst, it had immediately thought of DEPT. I thought that they had come to take me and Iontramon back for experiments. But maybe they already had what they wanted.

"Let me go and see who could be at the door…" he said sarcastically, staggering slowly down the stairs.

I decided I needed to follow him, just in case danger was on the other side of the door.

"Rocky mountain! How you doing?" The two boys bumped shoulders together in some kind of manly bro greeting that they always did.

"Rocky, what are you doing here?" I asked, frowning at him.

"It's good to see you too, little cuz!" Rocky laughed as he squeezed by Douglas in the narrow hallway towards the base of the stairs where I was standing. "Come here and give me a hug!" he exclaimed enthusiastically, grabbing me around the waist and lifting me up, swinging me from side to side – like he used to do when I was a child.

"Stop it, Rocky. You'll make me sick," I squeaked, hitting his back with my closed fist. "Put me down." When he did, I smiled. "What brings you here?"

"I thought I'd come and see my little cousin. Is that too much to ask for?" He waited until Douglas disappeared up the stairs. "I've got a little friend." Rocky unbuttoned his jacket when a blue creature poked his head out.

"Iontramon!" I exclaimed gleefully.

"Ssshh! Or Dougie will hear you." Rocky smirked a little uncontrollably. "Can, can you others come in? It's just that they're waiting outside… I did say that they could."

"Oh – sure. That's no problem." I smiled, opening the door to see Kara, Tilly and Benji standing on the doorstep. "Come on in, quietly or my older half-brother will hear…"

As they all came into the house, they seemed a little taken aback by the large and tidy interior of the house. Sure, the house was neat and tidy, but that is exactly what I liked about it, because it reminded me of Mum.

Even when I was a little girl playing with her Betty Spaghetti dolls and my mum would spend days and days trying to teach me how to make things neat and tidy – and put them away in the toy box. It was only until I was about seven or eight that it actually sunk in what I was meant to do, but the day that happened, Mum could not have been happier.

"The place is still neat and in tip top condition – I'm surprised bearing in mind Aunt Andrea's been gone for a day now." Rocky started to laugh as he led the others into the back room. "So, let's talk about what happened yesterday…" he added, pushing the door shut. "What do you guys remember?" Taking a seat beside Kara, Rocky slipped his arm around her, squeezing her shoulder reassuringly.

"I remember breaking the machine – I remember a name- What was that name?" I muttered, tapping my temple calmly, as if it would help me remember the name. The name. The General's name. His real name.

"Hunter Collins," Tilly murmured, which made me feel better – like I wasn't just imagining it. "That's his name. He's orchestrated the whole of DEPT – and he's the one who put Liomon, Candlemon and Lalamon in those bands."

"I'm worried about them – we need to get those bands off." Kara looked at Rocky and Tilly. "I think it's likely that they won't be able to digivolve… Maybe it's like a restrictor."

"Well, if that's the case, then we need to get them off as soon as possible. It'll be alright Kara, don't you worry about a thing." Rocky kissed Kara's cheek, causing them to flush with colour.

"Don't worry, I'll take care of everything." Benji smiled sitting on Kara's other side. "Me and Gummymon will protect you and the others – I promise."

I felt an 'aww' moment as the youngest boy looked up, almost adoringly at Kara – most likely because she was like an older sister, or mother figure.

"That's sweet of you Benji." Kara ruffled the boy's out of control hair, before turning away and letting out a deep sigh. "What about Wisemon?"

"He's gone, Kara. Don't you get it?" Tilly snapped aggressively. "Wisemon may have showed us these visions and all – but he is gone. You saw what the general did. That was him being- being deleted in digital terms-"

"Visions?" Rocky exclaimed. "You mean you got them too?"

Kara gawped at Rocky. "Well, I assume you did from the surprise on your face. Wisemon showed me the experiment that resulted in the daughter of the general being, created."

"So that's why you keep going on about kids and such to the General…" I told them the vision that Wisemon had shown me, which seemed to stir up some confusion.

After some discussion about my vision from Wisemon, we came to a weird conclusion.

"Wait a minute…" Rocky started. "So you're telling me that we have all had an accident, check-up or an MRI scan at the same hospital. And then we ended up with a Digivice, and a Digi-egg. That's absurd!"

"Cool it, cuz. It is possible, I guess…" I replied, trying to diffuse the tension that was building.

"Oh – I forgot to say. John wanted me to tell you all that he has settled into Japan now. He's enjoying the Digimon related work he's doing and he told me a lot about the operative he's been working with. And there's a girl in the scene too. He even asked me for some advice – it's adorable." Kara smiled, only for Rocky to elbow her gently. Though Kara was the only one who saw the adorable side of it, she seemed pretty cheerful about it.

"Not jealous, are you?" he asked, grinning broadly.

"No!" squealed Kara, thumping her boyfriend's chest.

A brush of fur on my face made me laugh in this slightly awkward atmosphere.

"Iontramon! Stop it!" I squeaked, trying to brush the little blue creature away, but he crawled up on to the top of my head.

"Alexis! What the-"

Douglas!

Every one of us froze and slowly turned to look at Douglas who was standing in the doorway – I don't think any of us even knew he was there.

Thoughts from AspiringWriterGirl = I'm so sorry for the delay – I've been a little snowed under with my new job lately. I think that it was about time that some things were revealed, so ta-dah!