Ch. 25 A Scientific Approach
A massive, factory like setting greeted the second Digidestined team which was composed of Ricky, Falcomon, Jennifer, Lunamon, Brandi, Salamon, Winona, Renamon, Javi, Monodramon, Andrew, and Guilmon. Hundreds of conveyer belts carried piles of various metals though out the building. The machinery that was lined along the conveyer belts would pick out several of the random metals and sort them to new lines to be carried to other parts of the factory.
"So what was this place called again?" asked Ricky.
"The Metallic Mill," answered Falcomon.
"Looks like this place sorts out and processed different types of metals from the digital world" observed Winona.
"Curious though, this place had been abandoned for a long time" spoke Renamon.
"Yeah, no one's been here in ages" added Monodramon.
"So how do you want to start your experiments Andrew?" questioned Javi
"Well we know this place has already been taken over since the clouds outside are dark. I think letting Jennifer look for the Shadow Crystal could be a good start. We can't try anything else until a D-Reaper shows up or until Jennifer finds the crystal." replied Andrew.
"I'll try to see if I can feel anything out but I'm still new at this," frowned Jennifer.
"Just try your best" spoke Lunamon.
"And if you can't find anything don't worry about it. We'll just come up with a new plan" added Brandi.
"All we ask is that you try" finished Salamon with a smile.
"We should split up, we might be able to do more that way" suggested Guilmon.
"Alright, how about me and Winona take Jennifer around and see if she can sense out the Shadow Crystal?" asked Brandi.
"That sounds good, me, Javi, and Ricky can try to draw out a D-Reaper along with trying out a few other ideas I have" said Andrew "Oh yeah, let us know the second you find and destroy the Shadow Crystal. Got another theory I want to test."
After agreeing on the plan and what needed to be done, the two trios of Digidestined, along with their partners, split off into the mill. Jennifer's group wandered the factory for a few minutes until they discovered a steel stair case leading up the factory's catwalk system over looking all the conveyer belts.
"We should be able to see a lot more of the factory from up there" figured Brandi.
"Let's check it out then" said Winona walking up the stairway and onto the upper level of the mill. The group followed her up the stairs and onto the catwalk. The higher view from the walk way showed all the metals being transported deeper into the mill toward a glowing flame in the distance.
"I wonder what the metals are being melted into?" questioned Salamon.
"Can't be anything good if the D-Reapers are using it" replied Lunamon.
"It might be wise to shut this place down if the Digital Reapers are using it for their own needs" added Renamon.
"Something feels off here…" spoke out Jennifer as she observed the factory. She noticed one pathway and began to walk along it, the other members of the team following close behind.
"Can you feel something evil here?" asked Lunamon as she walked beside Jennifer.
"Sorta, there's like this empty presence up here. Not the warm feeling I learned to feel out from Albert and Kayla." answered Jennifer. Jennifer kept on walking through the various pathways until she lead the team to a metal pillar heading up into the rafters of the building. After observing the pillar for a few moments, Jennifer spotted the Shadow Crystal, embedded into the side of the pillar.
"You found it!" cheered Lunamon.
"You might want to work on destroying it soon" said Salamon nervously.
"Why?" asked Brandie
"We have company coming" growled Renamon taking a battle stance.
"Figures, the one time we want to find a reaper. They don't want to show up" sighed Javi. Javi's group of Digidestined wandered the Metallic Mill's lower floor hoping to draw out one of the Digital Reapers. After reaching a colossal furnace in what appeared to be the center of the mill, the group decided to come up with a new plan.
"I wonder what happens to all the metals that go into that furnace?" wondered Ricky aloud as he took notice of all the conveyer belts dumping their cargo into the flames in the center of the furnace.
"I think the Digital Reapers might be taking the molten materials but for what purpose remains to be the question here" observed Falcomon.
"That would be our little secret." laughed Corvus suddenly. The group turned to see Corvus standing atop one of the rafters above them. "I can promise you one thing, it's something big"
"How about you just tell us what you're doing here now?" glared Guilmon.
"I'm afraid I can't do that. Now, if you would be so kind as to vacate my factory along with your other friends. I have a lot of work to get done here" ordered Corvus.
"I don't think you have the right to own this place" counted Javi.
"No place in the Digital World should be under your control" added Andrew.
"Fine, I'll have security take care of you" sighed Corvus. The Digital Reaper clapped his hands causing several Digimon to appear around him. Half of the possessed Digimon appeared to be rather bulky, robot like creatures with a light brown color and a bronze trim along their bodies. The other half of the evil Digimon had a robot like appearance with long arms. The Digimon's body had a silver color to it with a red, glass orb on its chest and a blue dome on its head.
"Guardromon, escort these Digidestined out of the mill. Mekanorimon, do the same with the children exploring the rafters." commanded Corvus. The silver colored Digimon obeyed and flew off into the upper levels of the mill while the bronze colored Digimon began to surround Javi and his group.
"Looks like we got a fight on our hands fellas" said Monodramon coolly.
Monodramon Drive Digivolved to… Pteramon
Guilmon Drive Digivolved to… Stegomon
Falcomon Drive Digivolved to… Shurimon
"I remember these guys from one of our first trips to the Digital World. Guardromon are at the champion level and their attack is called Guardian Barrage if I remember right" thought out Javi.
"Yep, that about covered them" said Ricky double checking the info on his D-Dex.
"That means they'll go down just as easily as last time, Missile Storm" cried Pteramon launching his barrage of missiles toward the surrounding Digimon. Several of the corrupt Digimon were easily disposed of with Pteramon's attack, sending them to their black goo form.
"Guardian Barrage" counted several of the Guardromon, revealing a set of turrets on their arms. A barrage of bullets soon began to rain upon the Digimon team.
"Double Stars" shouted Shurimon using his giant ninja stars to cut through the enemy Digimon, stopping their attacks.
"Shell Needle Rain" followed up Stegomon taking out a few more Guardromon. Once several of the Guardromon crashed into the ground, they began to melt into the usual black puddles of slime. Andrew quickly took out a small, glass vial from his pocket and scooped up a sample of the sludge like substance.
"We can work with this" said Andrew to himself. He heard a beeping sound amid the fighting and pulled out his D-Dex. Andrew smiled as he read over the message he had just received on his D-Dex. "Got something I want you to try out Javi!"
"Mekanorimon, champion level machine Digimon that can perform an attack called Twin Beam" read Winona from her D-Dex. The incoming Digimon began to swarm around the group before launching a barrage of red colored lasers toward the Digidestined and their partners. The group managed to duck just in time to avoid the attack.
"Now it's our turn" said Renamon.
Renamon Drive Digivolved to… Kabukimon
Salamon Drive Digivolved to… Nefertimon
Lunamon Drive Digivolved to… Rinkmon
"Iris Beam!" cried Nefertimon using her attack to blast several of the Mekanorimon out of the air and down onto the floor below. "We'll handle them, you three try out Andrew's experiment"
"Alright, let's see what happens when I put my hands on that stone" said Brandi. Laid her hand on top of the stone's surface and left it there for a few seconds. To the group's dismay, the stone remained unaffected.
"Ok, we know Jennifer can break it on her own, let's see if it can stand up to a Digimon's attack" said Winona.
"Must… protect… stone… Twin Beam" called out the Mekanorimon together, firing their attack.
"Cherry Blossom Storm" chanted Kabukimon swiftly dodging the attack then slicing through a large number of the enemy Digimon.
"Spinning Cutter" added Rinkmon gracefully leaping from walkway to walkway, taking out the remaining Mekanorimon. She then took one last leap toward the Shadow Crystal and sliced through it with her powerful attack. The crystal immediately burst into tiny shards then vanished.
"That did it" smiled Jennifer.
"It appears a few of the surviving Mekanorimon are free from the dark presence" observed Kabukimon looking to the ground floor and seeing several of the Mekanorimon surveying the area in confusion.
"I'll let Andrew know we destroyed the stone and that it can be broken by our Digimon's attacks" said Brandi as she pulled out her D-Dex.
"What do you want me to try?" asked Javi running up to Andrew.
"Have Pteramon De-Digivolved then Digivolve normally," replied Andrew.
"But what about the…" began Javi.
"Trust me, I think it'll work. Just do it fast" said Andrew quickly.
"Alright, Pteramon, switch back to Monodramon and try for the champion level" called out Javi.
"Ok, I'll try" said Pteramon returning to his Monodramon form. "Hope this works"
Monodramon Digivolved to… Strikedramon
"It feels so good to be back" exclaimed Strikedramon with excitement. Strikedramon appeared to be a taller, thinner form of Monodramon with green pants and various pieces of metal covering a variety of his body. Red markings covered his now white colored chest and he now had orange hair sticking out from his metal helmet.
"To bad, there's nothing left to fight" frowned Shurimon watching several of the Guardromon fade away into the dark puddles while the remaining robotic Digimon just looked around confused.
"So that's what normal Digivolution looks like" admired Ricky.
"You might have taken out my guards but I still control this factory" barked Corvus.
"Not for long, Strike Fang" cried Strikedramon leaping into the air. The metal plates on his body began to glow in a bright red color then burst into a stream of flames. Strikedramon rammed into the furnace from various spots, taking out the massive oven in a matter of seconds. Strikedramon then returned to his partner and let out a smile. "You were saying?"
"Why do I have to report all that bad news to Crux?" groaned Corvus as he observed the rubble of the once great furnace. Corvus then clapped his hands together and vanished in a puff of black smoke.
"Let's regroup with the others guys and head home. I think Cody's and Albert's teams would love to hear about this" smiled Andrew.