Chapter 25

Regrouping

Veemon's head was throbbing painfully, and he slowly touched his head only to recoil as it pounded again. He slowly opened his eyes, only to see one torch as the source of light through metal bars lining the area in front of him. He then realised he was in a cell, and quickly walked up to the bars and called out frantically.

'Hello? Is anyone there? Let me out!'

His eyes widened in terror as he heard heavy footsteps sound nearby and a large shadow appear near the torch to his right down the large corridor. He shrunk back into the cell when a jet-black Ghoulmon slowly walked up to his cell and stared at him, causing his stomach to churn uneasily.

The feeling only got worse as it suddenly began to speak in a terrible voice, with no moving parts, as if the voice was simply being projected.

'You are not the archangel.'

Veemon frowned suspiciously. 'Are you the leader of these Ghoulmon?'

The voice chuckled menacingly, as the BlackGhoulmon remained impassive. 'I am no Ghoulmon. They are simply... tools, for me to use as I see fit. They have no minds of their own. If they did, I could not control them as I do now, and scattered you pathetic "digidestined" like I have.'

Veemon frowned angrily. 'Barbamon.'

BlackGhoulmon edged closer, still scrutinising him with its eye. 'Aren't you an interesting one. I could not feel your mind at all as you approached... perhaps I made the correct decision to leave you alive.'

Veemon backed against the wall, still staring at the Cyclops defiantly. 'What do you want?'

'To find out... how you are free of all greed... so I can further dominate my enemies.'

Veemon shook his head vehemently. 'I won't give you anything.'

Barbamon scoffed in amusement. 'I'm afraid you have little choice in the matter. You cannot digivolve without your partner... you digidestined are weak in the fact you need humans to digivolve. Still...'

He paused thoughtfully. 'The fact that you are even here means your group is quite formidable. I am well aware of your accomplishments. Perhaps your data will be far more - potent, than the others I have assimilated.'

Veemon clenched an eye tensely. 'Assimilated? You mean killed? All those digimon... you're a monster.'

Barbamon chuckled in bemusement. 'No... you are mistaken. Assimilated is the correct term... and I did not kill them. Most of them, anyway. I simply ordered the Ghoulmon to transfer the data they gather to me. Advantages of a telepathic hive mind, you know.'

Veemon trembled with annoyance at Barbamon's trivial attitude. 'Don't toy with me. Just get this over with, or, rather, kill me. I'd rather you not benefit at all.' He glanced away uneasily. 'I don't care... if I die...'

BlackGhoulmon's eye widened and focused on him, and he couldn't help but stare back into it, despite his revulsion.

'Oh, but you do care, Veemon. Or rather... those you care about who will be affected. Now... I have what I need to extract your... energy. Your mindset.' He cackled semi-maniacally. 'Who knew the digidestined could be so fragile?'

Veemon clutched his head as Barbamon began to forcibly examine his memories of his friends; in particular, Davis and Gatomon. 'Get out of my head! I won't turn on them... I won't let you get anything from me...'

Barbamon persisted as he whispered into his head. 'I will find out everything about you and your friends... and find further weaknesses to exploit. For you see... friendship, loyalty, love... greed is intertwined with all such relationships. That is why I find you digidestined so amusing, for you all exhibit these traits... At this rate, they will turn on each other and become easier targets once I'm through with them. And if not, my Ghoulmon army is more than capable of destroying them.'

Veemon continued to fight against Barbamon with all his resolve for several minutes, before he eventually passed out and slumped against the wall. Barbamon growled in frustration as Veemon's mind shut down.

Your willpower is strong... but it cannot last forever. Your friends will never be able to get past my guards in time. You digidestined simply fight the inevitable.

'Bee!'

'Agumon!'

The two of them rushed towards each other and embraced as the groups were reunited in the midst of the scattered ruins. Davis and many others couldn't help but frown solemnly as they pictured Veemon's annoyed reaction to the two of them.

As Agumon and Biyomon gazed at each other, Agumon frowned worriedly as he studied her.

'Are you all right, Bee?'

Biyomon rolled her eyes. 'I didn't fight anything, in case you forgot, dimwit.'

'Uh... right. Sorry.'

'Still...' She sighed worriedly. 'It was rather upsetting to see Veemon taken from right in front of me.'

Agumon nodded in agreement. 'I wish I was there to help...'

'You wish you were everywhere, to help.' Biyomon smiled fondly. 'There's only so much you can do.'

Matt looked at his digivice impatiently. 'Tai, why exactly are we waiting here? I can see Ghoulmon nearing the castle in the distance... shouldn't we get moving before they spot us?'

Tai was constantly tapping his digivice, trying to get through to Ken. 'We need to get Ken's group to regroup... they should be returning from their patrol any minute.'

Sure enough, Davis quickly heard Ken's voice coming from his digivice. He quickly pulled it out of his goggles.

'Davis! Do you read me?'

'I read you, Ken. Everyone else is here with me.' He frowned regretfully. 'Almost everyone.'

'What do you mean, Davis?'

'Nevermind - we'll explain when you get here. We're in some ruins west of the castle. Don't go too close to it; the Ghoulmon patrols have increased.'

Ken paused before replying. 'You won't have to worry. Renamon's already able to detect yours and the Ghoulmon's minds to avoid. We'll be there soon.'

Everyone gathered in a circle and sat down as Tai got ready to address them.

'What's our next step, Tai?' Izzy asked curiously. 'It's rather obvious to me, but... I just need clarification. Our maps are incomplete, and I doubt Bokomon's will complete it.'

Tai glanced over at the castle warily. 'I think that castle should be our next stop. If there's anywhere Veemon would be, it might be there.'

Mimi grimaced uneasily. 'I know it seems like the obvious route... but it will be dangerous. If Barbamon traced us to the camp...' She shook her head helplessly. 'I don't think we'll be safe anytime soon.'

Kari sighed worriedly. 'The safest we can be is if everyone's together.'

Davis nodded. 'And that's why we're trying to find Veemon. We need him...' He sighed worriedly. '...I need him.'

'After we search the castle...' Matt interjected. 'Assuming we get that far, then what?'

Tai frowned uncomfortably. 'To be honest... I'm not sure, Matt. Unless we find some lead on Barbamon or Veemon - some clue as to where they are... I just don't know.'

Everyone was silent for a moment before Izzy spoke up. 'I think... once we get Bokomon's data, we'll at least have an approximate picture of the Ghoulmon patrols... at least, before the attacks happened. Perhaps I'll have a general direction of where we should go... even if he has moved since, we may find other clues as to where he has gone...'

Tai sighed with slight relief. 'I just hope it'll be enough, Izzy.'

Biyomon gasped softly as she spotted movement from the east.

'What is it, Bee?' Agumon asked as she flew upwards.

She squinted and studied the figures closely, and smiled as she came down. 'It's Ken's group! And it looks like they're all there... even Myotismon!'

TK's eyes widened with surprise. 'Really?'

Agumon smiled at him. 'I'm glad you were wrong about him.'

TK frowned slightly, before Patamon touched his arm gently. 'It's OK, TK. Don't worry about it.'

TK glanced away from him guiltily. 'I'm... trying not to. I don't want him to hold everything I've said about him against me...'

'He won't.' Patamon smiled encouragingly. 'He'll forgive you.'

TK frowned thoughtfully. 'Maybe he doesn't have to know...'

Patamon gaped slightly before Agumon and Guilmon exclaimed loudly in greeting as they gripped each other's claw tightly.

'I'm glad you're alright, Guilmon.' Agumon grinned, to which Guilmon smirked back.

'I'm better than alright! Calumon made me warp digivolve!'

Agumon's eyes widened with surprise before he smiled warmly. 'Good for you. Now you've finally caught up to Renamon.'

Renamon frowned coldly and folded her arms. 'Hmph... keep dreaming.'

Calumon opened an eye, now lying on Guilmon's head. 'Keep it down, will ya?'

Ken and Wormmon approached Davis, and were concerned when they didn't see Veemon.

'Davis...' Ken began sympathetically. 'What happened to Veemon?'

Guilmon's attention immediately snapped to Davis, as with everyone else who just came back. Davis looked around at them sadly as he recounted what happened with Gatomon and the portal.

'Veemon's gone?' Guilmon exclaimed incredulously. 'Then we have to find him!'

Agumon groaned in exasperation. 'What do you think we've been discussing all the time you've been gone?'

Guilmon scratched his head as he studied the group, standing aimlessly. 'I dunno, pie?'

Renamon snorted with contempt as Agumon glared slightly at Guilmon. 'Just switch that with bread, and that applies to you, Guilmon. Moron.'

Ken frowned seriously. 'So what now? We go to the castle to search?'

Davis nodded. 'I figured you'd know what to do.'

Joe then spoke up. 'We should use the secret passage we discovered to get in.'

Tai looked around at everyone, before turning to Myotismon. 'What do you think, Myotismon?'

Myotismon hesitated before he answered. 'It will be difficult for so many to move through the castle, as large as it is...'

'How large are the corridors?'

'Certainly large enough for several Ghoulmon to move through side by side.' As Tai eyed him hopefully, he frowned sceptically. 'However, that's only the main halls... the dungeons are smaller; only wide enough for about five people to travel through in a row. I'd suggest you split into two groups once we reach the dungeons; that is most likely where we will find your friend.'

Izzy nodded thankfully. 'What about information on Barbamon's location? Where would we find that?'

Myotismon sighed in slight helplessness. 'That... I do not know. But if he had a portal in there, like the one you described...' He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. 'I suppose such a portal would be put in the most centralised and accessible part of the castle; being the theatre hall. That, at least, would put us closer to Barbamon; otherwise he would have no need of such a portal.'

'But...' Joe frowned worriedly as he objected. 'Wouldn't Barbamon close the portal once he realises what we're doing?'

Myotismon nodded. 'That is a possibility. However, if he does so, he will not be able to reinforce this area with more forces, and we'll be able to wipe out the Ghoulmon here - perhaps even escape if we wanted to.'

'Which we don't.' Agumon stated flatly.

Myotismon nodded in agreement. 'We won't... but it goes against what Barbamon wants.'

TK frowned thoughtfully. 'How would you know about Barbamon's goals?'

Myotismon glanced at TK warily before he continued. 'It is well known that he is a demon lord; the one of avarice.'

Guilmon scratched his head in confusion. 'What's avarice?'

Renamon frowned in annoyance. 'The same thing you have for bread, Guilmon. Greed.'

Myotismon nodded. 'That is correct... and it makes me wonder as to why he does not just send his entire army to destroy us, instead of all this sneaking, ambushing and playing with minds...'

Davis blanched in terror. 'Are you saying... Veemon, if he's alive... that Barbamon's torturing him?'

Myotismon glanced downwards in sorrow. 'I'm afraid so.'

Gatomon mewed softly in distress. 'This is terrible... I should be the one captured, not Veemon. He's in pain because of me...'

Agumon studied her sympathetically. 'He saved you, willingly... because he cares a lot about you, Gatomon. If your positions were switched, he would be in as much pain as you. Perhaps... more.'

Gatomon frowned slightly as she studied Agumon, confused. 'What do you mean, more ? What are you talking about?'

Agumon glanced away suddenly, then shook his head. 'Nothing. Nevermind.'

Gatomon pondered Agumon's reaction. Is he saying that Veemon cares about me... more than I care about him? I don't... understand...

Guilmon cleared his throat. 'If we want to find him... let's just go already. Enough moping around.'

Agumon clenched an eyeridge in slight annoyance. 'Damnit, Guilmon...' he muttered under his breath. 'I was just trying to tell her...'

Tai frowned sympathetically at Gatomon briefly, before nodding in agreement towards Guilmon. 'He's right. Now that we're all here, we can find that secret passage to get in.' He looked at Joe expectantly. 'Come on, Joe. Lead the way.'

Agumon frowned slightly as he rejoined Tai, who leant towards him uneasily. 'Agumon, I know you want what's best for Gatomon, but...'

'But what?' Agumon asked in confusion. 'She should know how he feels about her...'

Tai shook his head slightly. 'Maybe. But... it might only make things worse.'

Agumon's eyes slowly widened in shock as he realised what Tai was talking about. 'No... I refuse to believe Veemon is dead...' He shook his head in disbelief. '... not another friend...'

Tai forced himself to grin encouragingly. 'We don't know yet, Agumon... I'm just saying it may be a possibility. And... perhaps you should let Veemon tell her himself. You know?'

Agumon exhaled deeply to calm himself down. '...yeah.' He gave a small smile as he thought. 'I just hope he finally comes through and says it. Gatomon would be in for a surprise, I think.'

They looked towards Joe as he cleared his throat loudly and pushed his glasses upwards as he moved towards the front of the group. 'Right. Everyone, just be careful. We don't want to surprise Guardromon and the others into attacking us again.'

Gomamon frowned meekly. 'I didn't do it on purpose, Joe!'

Joe snorted doubtfully. 'You were lucky they were only Rookies and not Ghoulmon... otherwise you'd have been toast.'

Gomamon snorted dismissively. 'I'm sure they'll welcome me back this time.'

'Cog crusher!'

Gomamon sighed loudly as he ducked once again under the water, while Joe approached the end of the tunnel, just after leading everyone back through the area his group had explored previously.

'Guys! It's us!' Joe objected in slight alarm.

Hagurumon sweat dropped in embarrassment. 'Oh. Beg your pardon.'

As they filed into the dank room, the Kapurimon popped out and greeted them all enthusiastically. 'Hi Gomamon!' They greeted as he jumped out of the water. 'Are these your friends?'

Gomamon smiled and nodded. 'That's right.'

'You sure have a lot of friends.'

Joe frowned apologetically as he hurried everyone through, addressing Guardromon in particular, who was standing nearby, looking confused.

'I'm sorry we can't stay, guys... but we need to use your secret passage to rescue one of our friends.' He frowned seriously. 'His name's Veemon... and we suspect he's being kept here. Is that alright?'

Guardromon looked over to the exit, where the rest of the digidestined were headed. 'As long as you don't alert any of those who dwell above to our location. Otherwise, we'll have to relocate once again. I hope we don't have to... I'm not sure we'll be able to get everyone out safely in such a case.'

Joe nodded earnestly. 'We won't. We face a similar situation... since there are quite a few of us.' He suddenly glanced downwards sadly.

'What's wrong?' Guardromon asked, as he watched the last of the digidestined file through.

'After this...' Joe gulped nervously. 'I just hope we succeed... so that you can be free again. But... the Ghoulmon army, a Demon lord, sometimes, I just don't know if we can do it...'

Guardromon studied him sympathetically. 'We've been through a lot, too. We cannot fight that army at all, and yet we've survived this far. I know that you have some powerful members in your group... just remember that we believe... you can.'

Gomamon and Joe gaped slightly as the machine digimon surrounded them and supported them with words of encouragement.

Hagurumon gave an odd smile. 'We'll be sure to see you all again. No matter how long it takes... we'll await the time when we can live normally.'

'Good luck!' The Kapurimon began chanting, along with their names, causing Joe and Gomamon to blush in embarrassment and smile back.

'Thanks, guys... we'll do our best.' Joe managed to croak before following the end of the line.

Gomamon waved goodbye and followed Joe, glancing backwards several times with slight sadness, knowing the possibility of failure. He quickly shook the thoughts out of his head.

They're all counting on us... and far more digimon which are no doubt in similar situations to them. We have to defeat Barbamon... for their sake. We can't fail.

BlackAgumon remained watching the smaller digimon as they gathered around Bakemon that night, Cerberumon lighting a small fire for the rest of the meat; Chuumon, Sukamon and some other Bakemon gathering around hungrily. He found it rather curious how easily and equally they divided the food Bakemon had brought, though he had little idea how much food digimon of their size would require each day, given he rarely ate or felt hungry himself. However, he accepted one of the hares that Bakemon offered as he wasn't sure there was any available data to absorb nearby.

Of particular interest was Cerberumon and Beastmon. They spent a lot of time together, now eating some meat next to the fire, and Bakemon's brief explanation, elaborated upon even further when he tried again, made no sense. Why would an ultimate digimon directly ally herself with a champion, when he'd only slow her down? Perhaps it had something to do with Cerberumon's guard duty, as he surmised Beastmon was too restless to stand around in one place for too long. Bakemon had mentioned the word 'love' but quickly reconsidered his words, spouting that he didn't know for sure. From what he remembered from the past, that would indicate they cared about each other more than they cared about themselves, but he still couldn't figure out why when Beastmon barely participated in anything to do with combat. Love, to him, was apparently something that makes those affected stronger in the presence of another. He settled that, at least, this helped Cerberumon in his guard role.

'Don't you ever talk?'

BlackAgumon barely reacted to Aurumon's inquiring goggles staring down at him in the closed space, between some large sacks of supplies that hid him from view but giving him quite a good one of the fire and the digimon surrounding it. He didn't budge an inch, still examining the scene before him.

'You are all fools, you know.'

Aurumon simply chuckled lightly. 'I believe you've told us that several times already.'

'I mean it.' BlackAgumon's eyes darted coldly up at him. 'You should have kicked me out the moment you found out how strong I am. My presence will be the death of you.'

'Indeed.' Aurumon answered knowingly. 'And how do you figure that?'

'Barbamon, in his hunger, couldn't possibly ignore my power. He will want my data absorbed... I know not whether he would come himself, or send his so called army... nevertheless, I make it dangerous for you here.'

Aurumon continued to stare. 'You want to leave.'

'I've wanted to leave the moment I knew Barbamon's weakness.'

'But you didn't.'

BlackAgumon flinched slightly. He tried so hard to bury his curiosity about almost everything, as he would most likely be punished for it in the future, in some way or another, whether by the subjects of his curiosity being destroyed, or simply taken away. Some force that exists only to impede anything that he could possibly grow to even care about. It didn't help that the explanations offered about his... soul, by other digimon, never seemed accurate or give him hope, especially after all this time.

Aurumon quickly shut his beak at the glare he received, shifting restlessly when BlackAgumon stood and took a step towards the main gate.

'I suppose there's no way to convince you otherwise?'

'There's not enough reason for me to stay.'

Aurumon frowned sadly. 'Will you at least say goodbye?'

'Why?'

Aurumon was put off yet again by his odd questions, and took a moment to gather his thoughts. 'It... well, Bakemon was obviously quite happy with you being around, even though it's only been a day. He may be miserable if he finds out you left without saying goodbye.'

BlackAgumon gave a small headshake. 'I don't see why I should care.'

He gave Aurumon one final glance, before hunching down silently and disappearing into the shadows, retreating to the edges of the village away from the fire. Aurumon, with his enhanced eyesight, could still spot the yellow slits that were his eyes, shrunk as to avoid others seeing him. He only watched without a sound, watching sadly as the slits quickly made their way out the front gate. He sighed heavily with sadness, and also, acceptance.

Do what you will, dark one. I wish you luck, and for you to find your own hope. As for us... we will continue to hope, for what is the point of living here without it?

BlackAgumon's pace gradually slowed as he dashed through the trees, continuing out to the left as he'd found the village from the right of the gate. A sharp feeling swam through his gut, though he was unsure what it meant. All he did know was that he didn't want to leave.

He cursed himself for his doubt. I've already ran through the scenario... multiple times. Perhaps it was... different, to spend time with other digimon instead of Alphamon, even naive ones who trust too easily along with their nauseating talk of hope. But I cannot stay. If I do not destroy Barbamon, the threat of his army destroying them all will always be present. But if I do, the shroud will most likely disappear, or at least thin enough for Alphamon to find me. And... even if Alphamon finds me again, at least there's a small chance of me seeing these digimon again one day. I need to find Barbamon, or all those digimon will die for sure, feeding his power...

He was so stricken with these thoughts that he nearly stopped in his tracks. Realising he had lost track of where he hadn't been, he glanced around, not spotting any distinguishing landmarks that he had or hadn't seen. He mentally slapped himself.

You fool. These thoughts only hinder.

He calmed himself down and focused to try and sense the power of the digimon he'd just left behind, and only just recognised Beastmon's data after concentrating for nearly a minute. Unfortunately, that was not the only data he detected.

Multiple beings, with strange data... as if warped and channelled by another, lending some source's power along with their individual strength. What are these things?

Unable to pinpoint their location, as the sheer volume of their power drowned out all others, he opened his eyes to feel faint rumbling beneath his feet. He followed the sound with both his feet and eardrums, and, too late, realised it was coming for him.

He only just managed to hide and close his glowing yellow eyes before dozens of heavy footsteps thudded on the hard dirt in the darkness of the trees. Forcing himself to only use his ears, he felt his way into a large bush, being careful not to make a sound. The entire forest fell silent as the footsteps slowed to a halt.

He waited for minutes on end, but heard nothing else, even though he could feel the weight of their power clamping down on him. Then, after another minute, the footsteps resumed, and he braced himself for battle, but they were not coming for him. After a few seconds, his eyes shot open, seeing dozens of hulking figures moving through forest with relative ease between the trees, right in the direction from which he had come from.

No...

After pausing for a moment, he took off in pursuit, being careful to not make enough noise to give himself away, in the face of the many digimon's data that were the creature's prey.