Digimon: Curse of the Administrators Chapter 26: The Curse I Gave Myself, a digimon fanfic

The Curse I Gave Myself

Server Continent, one year ago...

An explosion rocked the building. The tenth floor window of the apartment complex in Highton View Terrace burst into flame-- a human man and an orange lizard-like Digimon leaping down the fire escape to avoid the blast. A few seconds later, Gatomon followed them, nursing a burn wound on her tail. The man held a younger woman in his arms, trying to find a place to hide, "Kari, wake up! We're being attacked!"

The girl, Kari, opened her eyes, beads of sweat covering her forehead, "Tai... What's going o-- unh..."

"Kari! Stay with me!"

The lizard Digimon, Agumon, looked worried, "Her pneumonia... Is it getting worse?"

"The stress... It's effecting her."

The sound of heavy boots walking across the floor alerted them. Tai reached into his pocket and produced his Digivice, "What a Christmas season this is... Glad I was here visiting. Agumon, let's find this guy and show him what we're made of!"

Katsu walked into view down below, "Well, well... The strongest of the Digi Destined, Tai Kamiya. Set your sister down. I'm dealing with you first."

Tai hesitated, but he placed Kari on the fire escape landing, Gatomon guarding her closely. Tai jumped to the ground below, his Digimon partner following shortly after.

Katsu smiled and extended his left arm outward; a metal gauntlet covered his hand. With a flick of his wrist, a foot-long blade extended from the back of the hand guard. He let his arm fall back at his side, "You're confident you can defeat me without your friends?"

"That's more than I could say about you and your explosives," Tai said, an obvious snarl in his voice. He turned to Agumon, "You ready, buddy?"

Agumon nodded, "As I'll ever be."

Tai held out his Digivice, "Then let's show this punk who he's dealing with!"

Agumon began to shine, and his Digivolution began, "Agumon Warp Digivolves to... WarGreymon!"

The familiar metal dinosaur Digimon stood ready, "You're gonna regret what you did to the others!"

Katsu chuckled, "Really now? That's what the second, third and so on said. But now they're all dead. I doubt you'll change much, lizard."

Tai growled, "Tear him apart, WarGreymon!"

WarGreymon activated his thrusters and leapt at him, "Mega Claw!"

There was a sound of metal colliding, and the force from WarGreymon's thrusters began to push Katsu back. Katsu would not be so easily dealt with, however. He diverted the energy to the side and used his right hand, clad in a metal gauntlet as well, to punch WarGreymon into a building.

WarGreymon recovered and attacked again, throwing Katsu back. He followed and drove his Dramon destroyers into the ground, barely missing Katsu's head, "You will not survive this encounter!"

Katsu growled and forced him off, slicing open his chest armor, "We'll see about that!"

WarGreymon staggered backward and cringed, but the wound would not be enough to stop him. He assaulted Katsu with claw attacks, unable to use his energy attacks in such a highly populated area.

Katsu laughed as he took the offensive, "What's the matter, big guy? What happened to the big, strong Digimon I wanted the pleasure of killing? Show me your full potential!"

WarGreymon was getting angry. He looked back at Tai for advice. His partner looked torn, but he gave him a confident nod. WarGreymon went at Katsu again, this time launching him into the air. He gathered as much energy as he could, gathered it into a ball, and hurled it at Katsu, "Gaia Force!"

The ball of energy hit Katsu, sending him flying into a building down the street. He was hurt, and was not sure he could continue the fight. WarGreymon was much stronger than he had thought. He pointed his hand out in front of him and opened a portal to the Digital World, and quickly passed through it. The portal was closing slowly.

Tai and WarGreymon followed him in, reopening the portal as they went through. It began to close again, and Gatomon seemed worried about them.

Kari said, almost in a whisper, "Gatomon..."

The cat Digimon's ears perked up and she turned to her, "Kari, are you alright?"

"Gatomon... They're not coming back. We're all doomed."

"No, Kari, don't--"

There was another explosion. The apartment complex next to them began to crumble. A large piece of debris fell their way, and Gatomon spotted it. Putting all self preservation aside, she threw herself over Kari, punching the debris away. However, there was too much falling onto them. She could not punch them fast enough. Gatomon covered Kari as best as she could, and they were covered in the rubble of the building.

Explosions rocked the woods that Katsu had emerged in. WarGreymon was now using his full potential to destroy him, and his anger was making him even stronger. Katsu figured that if he did not get on the offensive, he would die. He turned around and faced his opponent. They both charged at each other, metal clashing against metal and flesh tearing as armor was destroyed.

Katsu grit his teeth together as he struck, "You're beginning to annoy me, you overgrown iguana..."

"Your arrogance will lead to your end, human," WarGreymon snarled, charging another Gaia Force.

Right as the attack was about to form, Katsu forced WarGreymon's hands into the ground, causing it to erupt beneath them. Katsu took the opportunity to escape WarGreymon and head straight for Tai. The Digi Destined man had no time to react. Katsu's wrist blade was embedded in his chest.

Tai, still in shock, looked down at his wound, "Wha..."

Any form of reluctance WarGreymon had disappeared. He charged at Katsu, his Dramon destroyer ready for the kill. Just in time, Katsu turned around and counterattacked with his own blade.

There was a deadly silence. WarGreymon's chest armor fell apart, and strands of data began to pour from his open wound. At the same time, Tai was beginning to grasp what had happened to him. At the same time, both human and Digimon partner collapsed.

The metal in Katsu's wrist blade splintered and cracked. With a loud clanking sound, the blade and gauntlet shattered. Katsu's chest exploded with blood, three huge slash marks running across his front side. He cringed from the pain, "Dammit..."

WarGreymon let out a long sigh, "Do you really think that what you're doing is right, human? You're only making things worse for both the Digital World and the human world alike."

Katsu frowned, "Oh really? All you Digi-Destined ever did was make things worse. Without you, evil Digimon will have no reason to seek greater power. The Administrators will take care of things from here on."

"Do you truly and honestly believe that?"

Before Katsu could answer, a voice came from over his radio, "Katsu… I've made a discovery. You're not going to like it…"

It was the voice of Zakk, his commanding officer. The voice continued, "I'm coming to you now. Please, stay where you are."

WarGreymon laughed and coughed, "Another one of you? You apparently don't need another man to finish me off. So do it. My partner is dead. I have… nothing else to live for."

A dark-robed man approached them. He took off the hood, revealing himself to be Zakk. The spiky-haired man smiled at Katsu, "Hey there… buddy. Got a minute?"

Katsu's brow furrowed, "What is this about, commander?"

"Please… don't call me that anymore. Soon I won't be more than a traitor," Zakk said, walking over to WarGreymon. He reached into his pocket and produced a large metal tube. He opened it, revealing a glowing white orb of data. He handed it to WarGreymon, "Here. A relic from a time long forgotten. It will change you, but you will not die. Think of it as my parting gift to this world."

Katsu growled, "Zakk, what are you doing? Master Deus specifically ordered that every Digi Destined human and Digimon are to be--"

"Iknow what Deus said, Katsu. I'm here so you can decide something for me," Zakk said, reaching over his back. He pulled his huge double Vulcan gun off its strap and let it rest on the ground, "I've sinned. Too much for me to bear, I'm afraid. I know that the Administrators have done a lot of horrible things to the Digital World, and that Digimon are living, breathing things, just like humans. But I'm in this whole thing too deep right now… I don't know what Deus is planning to do, but something catastrophic is going to happen to both the human and Digital world. I'm asking you… to kill me, Katsu."

Katsu's eyes widened, "But Zakk…"

"Kill me… or die. If you succeed, then I am worthy of ceasing my own crimes against our worlds. And if you fail… then I will know for sure that I am doomed to a life of corruption. I learned today, that I am unable to decide my own fate. So please, Katsu… my friend… take my life, or give me yours."

There was a long silence between the two. Katsu shut his eyes and sighed, "Zakk… What about Renee?"

"She has to find out on her own time. If we tell her now, she will be in shock, and Deus will likely terminate her."

"Why must I kill you? If you realize your sins, then just stop right now!"

"If I could, then I most certainly would. Katsu, I am asking you to kill me because there is no forgiving what I have done. The outcome only decides whether or not I continue such atrocities. The choice is no longer ours, my friend. It belongs now to fate, and fate alone."

Katsu grunted. Zakk was always a stubborn person, but this was going too far. He could not understand why it had to come down to one of them dying, but Zakk was not going to give him the chance to ponder it. He watched as his friend lifted his giant weapon to its ready position. Katsu spat and stood ready, "Well then... If that's how it has to be, then so be it. Just to let you know, I'm not going back to tell them what happened."

"I don't want you to go back to them," Zakk said, spinning the barrels on his gun, "The Administrators are evil. If you can, go back to the real world and warn everyone."

"I can't see why you won't let me go and do that now, but whatever. Defend yourself, Zakk," Katsu shouted, charging at his friend with his fist drawn back.

Zakk pulled the triggers on his gun and started firing, "We are both mere instruments of fate now, Katsu. If you are unable to stop the Administrators, then it was meant to be. Your victory, or your defeat, will shape both worlds the way they were meant to be shaped."

Katsu held his gauntlet out in front of him, bullets whizzing by and bouncing off his armor, "I don't want to let fate shape my life! I won't! You might not be able to shape your own destiny, but I can, and I will!"

Zakk saw that he was getting closer, so he readied himself for a melee fight. Katsu took a few shots in his chest and legs before he got close enough to strike. As he threw his punch, Zakk dropped his Vulcan and dodged to the side. He reached into his cloak and pulled out two handguns, "Well now, things are getting dicey."

Katsu attacked again, "Always had a pocket ace, haven't you?"

As Katsu's fist approached, Zakk took aim and fired, knocking the metal armored attack away, "Blunt weapons aren't the only thing that can block a melee attack."

Katsu surprised him with a gut punch, knocking him back, "You've gotta learn to pay attention!"

The fight drove on, with bullets soaring and fists swinging. Eventually Zakk had to reload. He leapt back and pulled out a clip, only to be intercepted and knocked down. Katsu pulled back his fist and went for the final blow, "This ends now!"

Zakk rolled to the side and picked up his Vulcan again, quickly revving up the spinning barrels and firing, "I won't go down that easily!"

Katsu ran straight at him, not caring how many hits he took, and drove his fist into the bottom gun, breaking it. The resulting jam in ammunition caused the bottom gun to tear itself apart, breaking the weapon in half and leaving only one Vulcan still working. He took the advantage, kicking Zakk to the ground and landing a hard punch on his chest. There was a sickening crack as Zakk's ribcage shattered, and Katsu's hand stung from the impact.

Zakk took in a sharp breath and struggled to hold it for a moment. He let it out slowly and took in another, this one much easier. He shut his eyes and winced from the pain, "Good... Very good..."

Katsu's hand shook, partly from the pain, and partly from the shock of what he had just done, "Zakk... Why..?"

"Because," Zakk said, coughing, "It's just like I said... I lack the ability to change my fate. I needed you to do it for me. I guess the only thing that could be done, has been done."

"It didn't have to end like this, and you know it..."

"You'll see why one day, Katsu. I have faith. I can see, though, that you're in for a rough time..."

"I don't know what you're talking ab--" Katsu's vision blurred, and he fell on his side. It was only now that he realized how much blood he had lost.

Zakk smiled, "You'll be ok. I know you'll get better somehow..."

"Damn you, you overconfident bastard," Katsu said, standing himself up again, "You're such an idiot..."

Zakk sighed and let his body go limp, "No argument there... See ya 'round... buddy."

Katsu shut his eyes tight and dropped to his knees. He slammed his hands on the ground and let out a pained scream that echoed through the woods. A few moments of silence passed, and he stood again. He picked up the remaining Vulcan that Zakk carried. He placed the handguns back into his friend's holsters. He nodded, "I'll live on... for the both of us. I'll make sure this gun doesn't harm innocent lives again. I promise."

He traveled for what seemed like an eternity, and wound up in the middle of a desert. He did not know how he even got there. Something told him that what Zakk said about fate was true-- that he was its instrument, and it was now leading him somewhere. All thought abandoned him, however, as he collapsed on the sand, fatigued from the loss of blood.

After what could have easily been either seconds or hours, voices flooded his ears, "Is he alive?"

"Barely. It's a shock he survived this long."

"That's good enough. Patch him quick and we'll bring him back to base."

"Shall I send the order to ready the data transfusion?"

"Yes, and tell them to be quick about it. This one could be... useful."

"At once, Lord Beelzemon."

Katsu awoke later with his pain almost gone. He looked down to see his wounds were still there, but the bleeding had stopped. He did not recognize the dark room he was in, but it looked to him like an infirmary. He stood and searched for his weapons, which were nowhere to be found.

A dark voice came from behind him, "You have awakened. Good. Lord Beelzemon wishes to see you."

The tall and dark Karatenmon led Katsu to Beelzemon's chamber, where the three-eyed power-hungry villain sat, eagerly awaiting an audience with his new employee. Karatenmon stood before Beelzemon, "He has awakened, my lord."

"As I can see," Beelzemon said, "Leave us."

Karatenmon did as instructed. Katsu immediately asked, "Where am I?"

"My humble abode, of course. My servants and I found you nearly dead, and graciously took you back to fix you up. We'd never leave an injured man like yourself to die."

"What's the catch," Katsu asked, already seeing that this Beelzemon character was a vile one.

Beelzemon grinned, "Your injuries, as you have undoubtedly noticed, are not as fixed as you would hope. I have complete and direct control over whether you live or die, and if you want to stay on my good side, you will help me. Is this clear?"

Katsu's eyes narrowed. What a spot he had been put in. He said bluntly, "Well then, I guess I have no choice. I made a promise that I'd live on."

"Glad we understand each other," Beelzemon said with an unsavory glee, "Perhaps you should become better acquainted with the others... You'll be working together quite a bit!"

Katsu sighed, "And so began my days working under him... Beelzemon. The most underhanded, self-loving son of a bitch villain ever to hit the Digital World."

Vincent was silent. This was not something he had expected. All of the times they fought Vincent; all of the data they lost to him... None of it was his choice. He nodded and said, "I got it. We'll help you then. Consider it done."

Katsu smiled a bit, "Thanks. Now all I need is Lupimon to switch preferences again and I'll be great."