Unmei Force: Encoded Memory (Arc 2.5)
Chapter 28: Eroded EDEN
At the Nakano Underpass...
The group navigated their way through the large maze of pipes and machinery that was the underbelly of the city above them, as they found a elevator that would lead them down to the actual Underpass.
"This is it. We're going to save Erika and EDEN together." Richard told everyone, as they pushed themselves into the elevator. "If you have any regrets, say them now, because from here, it's going to be a uphill that must be won no matter what."
Everyone was silent, as Richard smiled. "Good, I'm glad that you guys are with me." Richard said. "Ryuji, Chitose, Keisuke... Before we begin our final mission together, I want to say that I am proud of the moments we have had together. Even though my time with you guys were short, I have had many times to cherish, as did my companions."
"What do you mean, your final mission?" Keisuke asked. "Are you planning to leave after this is all over, like David?"
"You'll see... For now, don't worry about it. Worry about what we'll have to deal with when we make it to EDEN." Richard spoke in a calm tone.
The elevator doors opened with a bell chime, as they moved out, where they saw Fei waiting for then looked around, as parts of the walls were left with green digital markings, as if they were miniature portals to a green-coloured cyberspace.
"Whoa... This is really weird stuff. Are you sure it's safe to go on through?" Chitose asked Fei with a worried expression, on seeing how much of the path was digitised already.
"Yeah. We'll be fine, but be ready for battle." Fei advised them. "Keisuke, you and the others take point. The others have barely recovered, so I've got your back."
"Alright." Keisuke answered back, as he summoned HerculesKabuterimon, while the others summoned their partner Digimon.
They then proceeded through the long winding passsageways, as they fought off various kinds of Digimon with their own, as they made their way slowly to the place where Rie Kishibe's special EDEN terminal was. When they arrived, they found the large terminal, that was hooked up to so many static-filled monitors, and other support devices, being guarded closely by a group of troopers in green military gear.
"Kuh... There's guards everywhere..." Richard hissed with gritted teeth, as everyone hid behind the nearest wall. "We won't be able to do anything at this rate!"
"What do we do then?" Keisuke asked. "We could use our Digimon to beat them, but what will it do to our Digimon? They're not so strong that the soldier's weapons won't be able to harm them."
"We should wait for an opportunity to show itself." Gus suggested. "When there are only one or two left, we can take advantage, and log in before the rest come back."
"Good idea." Sanae nodded, before they then heard a noise above, as it resembled a series of cries, as Ryuji noticed one of them.
"Matayoshi!?" Ryuji exclaimed. "What is he doing here? Unless...?"
"Matayoshi must have done this in order to help cover for us..." Chitose realised. "But that would mean that Date must have been eavesdropping our conversation with Fei before..."
"So he's going to distract the troopers, and lure some of them up here?" Keisuke asked, as he felt deep respect for the elderly detective. "We cannot thank him enough for this..."
"Look... The troopers...!" Elma whispered, as everyone turned their attention to the trooper guards, as they noticed the commotion above-ground.
"It's chaos up there. Go and help. I'll handle things here!" One of the troopers ordered the others with several clear hand-gestures.
"Yes sir!" One of the other troopers cried back with a short salute, as the rest of the troopers jogged towards the elevators, leaving the sole trooper looking around for any intruders.
"Now's our chance!" Richard muttered, before he then ran up to the trooper, who immediately turned to him.
"Argh! A intruder!?" The trooper exclaimed, before he reached for his walkie-talkie. "Then there must be more! I have to call for some back-up-"
"No you DON'T!" Richard shouted, as he tackled the trooper to the ground, making him fall on his back. Before he could react, Richard immediately elbow-dropped the soldier on the face with such force, that the trooper was knocked out sufficiently, and he turned to the others. "He's down for the count! Everyone, get here!"
"Knocking out a Defence Trooper in a single motion..." Fei said. "I'd say that would be truly monstrous, but it didn't compare to what you did in Under Zero. Was that really you back there?"
"We don't need to question this kind of thing now, Fei!" Richard responded back with a urgent tone. "Ryuji, Chitose, Keisuke! We're going to hack into this thing with Fei!"
The mentioned hackers immediately came up to the machine, as they pulled out their user interfaces, as they attempted to crack the security on the EDEN Terminal, although they seemed to be struggling.
"What the hell is this!?" Chitose cried. "The encryption, it's too strong for just us to handle!"
"I didn't think it would be this easy to hack, but this..." Fei groaned. "This is a whole another level..."
"I can't get my head around it." Ryuji stated.
"This kind of programming requires multiple people on one machine... Any hacker could do it, but it's after the quantity of hackers who are hacking it, like a DDOS attack..." Chitose relayed the information he learned from his hacking attempts. "It's only possible if we have more people... But we're short-handed..."
Suddenly, the group heard footsteps, as everyone prepared their Digivices.
"Crap, we have to hide! Those soldiers might have came back!" Antonio shouted.
However, when the sources of the footsteps came into view, it was not the troopers tasked with guarding the terminal, but instead a slew of hackers from various hacking teams, as they immediately went up to the terminal.
"They're...!" Ryuji gasped.
"The EDEN hackers! But why are they here!?" Fei cried. "I don't recall any orders in ZAXON for them to assist us!"
"Fei! We felt so left out! Why wouldn't you let the other teams in on something this interesting!?" A lively ZAXON hacker asked Fei.
"Yeah! The future of EDEN is riding on this! We'll lend you a hand!" Another ZAXON hacker cried.
"You're going to take out that monster, right? Don't let ZAXON and Hudie have all the fun." A Demons hacker told them, as his mask was on his face.
Soon, Yu, wearing a Demons's mask, walked up to Keisuke and the others, before he then rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "I... I was just passing by." Yu asked in a timid voice.
"Yu? You're... You're here to help us?" Keisuke asked his masked friend.
"What are you talking about?" Yu questioned back. "I just heard that a strange monster's running riot in our cyberspace, so I got people together to help. It looks like you're having some trouble with your hacking. I'm happy to lend a hand."
"Yu... I know that you don't want us to see your face, because of what happened... But it's okay. We're relieved to have your help, Yu." Keisuke told Yu, before he smiled. "You really helped us a lot."
Yu remained silent, before he then took off his mask, as his expression was grim.
"I... I was too ashamed to let you see me, Keisuke, so I decided to wear a mask." Yu confessed with guilt. "But forget all that, I've come to apologise for everything I have done. I won't ask you to forgive me, but let me make up for that at least... You're going to save your friend now, right? Let me help. That's why I brought everyone."
Soon various hackers appeared, as the group could recognise the Masked Maids, the Steam Dealers, and some of the Dinosaurists Richard faced for the Beast Spirits, as the group saw that everyone were determined to help save EDEN.
"We're all outsiders in the real world, but EDEN brought us all together." Yu continued. "I know we didn't get along, and we may have different aims, but when it comes to getting EDEN back, we're together as one. I knew they would come if I put out the call for it. So please, accept my help... I want to be your best friend, and this time, I mean it..."
Keisuke then walked up to Yu, before he then hugged his friend tightly. "You're being silly, Yu. You always were my best friend." Keisuke assured Yu. "But if you done this for the sake of getting my trust and friendship back... Then consider yourself forgiven."
"Great, you've made up with Yu!" Wormmon chimed in from Keisuke's back.
Everyone immediately hacked in with Ryuji, Chitose and Fei, as they worked hard to override the security with their unstoppable wave of hacking might, as the security was slowly yielding against them.
"Okay, I managed to get login access for three people. But with our friend's little trick, we can bring more along with us, so long as Keisuke is near the rest of Richard and his group." Chitose told everyone.
"Three people... Fei, it has to be me, Chitose and Keisuke." Ryuji told the ZAXON hacker.
"No way! I'm responsible for protecting EDEN while Yuuko's away!" Fei said, before she sighed, shaking her head. "Well, that's what I want to say, but I know that you're not going to back down. I'll also need to stick around for Kamishiro."
"Don't worry! We'll take out the Eater and return EDEN to normal!" Chitose yelled with fighting spirit in his voice.
"Just make sure you do." Fei answered back.
"Leave the login machine to us. We did a rush job, so we'll need to make some adjustments." Yu told the group. "I've been thinking ever since what happened, and I finally understand. Hudie is probably the best place for you. You've come a long way since you met them. It actually made me feel a little jealous. But that's the reason why I won't give up. This time, I'll make sure I'm worthy of standing beside you as your Vanguard!"
Wormmon snickered hearing that, as Keisuke nodded back with a warm smile. "I'm sure that you will." Keisuke said. "Thank you, Yu."
Everyone interfaced with the login terminal, as they prepared to login into EDEN.
"This feels a little weird. Who'd thought that we'd get mixed up in something this big?" Chitose asked everyone. "I swear, ever since Keisuke, Richard, and his friends came into our lives, things got more and more hectic..."
"That's how life is, Chitose." Richard answered back. "We've got our things to deal with."
"It's not that big of a deal." Ryuji added. "There are people out there saving the real world, and our fight is small compared to theirs. Even so, it's our own fight, the fight that we will see through, for the sake of Erika..."
"We'll make them pay for taking Erika!" Wormmon cried. "Isn't that right, Ryuji?"
"Yeah. That's right." Ryuji smiled back, before he turned to everyone. "It's time. Let's do this.. as brothers and sisters of Hudie."
They soon logged in, as they entered EDEN, in whatever state the Eater Erosion left it.
In the DigiLab...
Richard and the group found themselves in the DigiLab, as they were all surprised to end up in the cybernetic lab. Mirei was in front of them, as she had her standard calm look on her face.
"Hello, Richard. And hello to your friends." Mirei greeted them. "I take it that you are about to head inside EDEN, in its broken state, is that right?"
"Yeah... But Mirei, how did you survive the erosion with the DigiLab?" Richard asked back. "The erosion spread through all of EDEN!"
"All of EDEN, yes, but your forget that the cyberspace that this DigiLab is based in, is ever-shifting. The Eater erosion cannot maintain a presence here, so I am in no danger, as is the Digilab." Mirei explained. "As for why I have intercepted you during your log-in, I have decided to give you a final visit. When you arrive at EDEN, you will no longer have access to the DigiLab, so I advise you to make your final Digivolutions before you depart for your final battles."
"I see.. So this will be the last time we'll ever see you for a while?" Richard asked, before he sighed deeply and nodded. "Alright, then let's do it. Reimu, Sanae, Elma, summon your Digimon partners. It's time they earn their final forms."
The three females immediately nodded, as they summoned Adam, Ran and Aya, who were immediately forced into Digivolution by the systems in the lab, as their forms slowly transformed. Adam's form immediately changed into his Blast Mode variant, where his red eyes are now green, his back sprouted four black raven wings, the upper two of which are much larger than the lower two, and his weapon became a massive cannon that was integrated to his right arm. Ran became Sakuyamon, with her golden staff and yellow armour that surrounded her body. Aya became a Ravemon in her Burst Mode Variation, as she was aa winged, humanoid Digimon with. She is clad from head to toe with black armour and a black mask on her face that appears like that of a raven head. It has two wings, one white and one black, as they glowed with a purple armour around them. Her left hand was a large talon-like claw, while her right was a long katana sheathed in her waist.
"So this is what true power feels like..." Adam remarked, checking his new weapon, before grinning wildly. "Neat."
"Finally, I have attained the form that I desire to use as a conduit of faith to my holy maiden..." Ran spoke with hidden joy in her voice. "I am grateful to those who have helped me attain such enlightenment."
"I kind of look like a tengu! This actually looks much better than I was when I was a Garudamon!" Aya exclaimed with interest in her new form. "I can't wait to try this new form out!"
The partners immediately withdrew their Digimon, as Richard turned to Mirei.
"Never thought the day would come, but I understand that you and we will be separated from each other. Even so, you have given us so much, the new power that our partners wield... I don't know how to thank you back for what you have done, Mirei Makumura."
"...You need not ask for any payment, for you have long repaid it with your kindness and camaraderie with your Digimon partners." Mirei answered back with a smile. "Now then... Go on, and bring about a new future in this world, Richard Liu, for you will be able to turn fate significantly when the resolution comes."
"I'll keep that to heart." Richard answered back. "Farewell, Mirei... May me meet again..."
Everyone soon disappeared through the sever transfer pad, as Mirei then sat down on her chair, as she opened her laptop, as the images of the group with their partners appeared.
"Yes, indeed... We will meet again, even if the time is uncertain..." She muttered to herself silently.
In the Eater-eroded EDEN...
The group appeared alongside Keisuke and the other Hudie hackers, despite them spending some time in the DigiLab. As everyone logged into EDEN, they looked around, as there was only a single server, which consisted of a twisted landscape of white skyscrapers which were either leaning or toppled to one side, as orange digital glitches ran up each of their sides, and Eater Tentacles could be seen snaking around them, while the entire area's infrastructure was also white, with black sharp crystal-like protrustions under them.
"Is this really EDEN!?" Chitose cried in horror about EDEN's corruption.
"It's worse than I thought. What happened to the Digimon that were here?" Ryuji grimly stated.
"Maybe the Eaters got them all..." Wormmon whimpered.
"But how could EDEN get like this!? There were Eaters before, but it was never this bad!" Chitose shouted in anger.
"According to Suedou's paper, once Eaters have assimilated data, they break it down and reconstruct it in their own form." Wormmon recited his knowledge. "By consuming their targets, they overwrite themselves and are reborn as new life. In other words... evolution... But their evolution is usually suppressed for some reason, maybe so they can carry out their function as data-gathering entities. Because of Erika's modifications, the Eater Legion lost its link with the Mother Eater. With no limits to its evolution, it went out of control. At this rate, that Eater will absorb all of EDEN and turn it into a terrible monster... Because of this, the erosion might even spread to the real world."
"All the more reason why we have to save Erika, before this becomes permanent..." Richard reminded the hacker of what they must do to stop all of this.
"Let's get moving. We need to take out the Eater Legion, before the erosion spreads." Ryuji told everyone.
They continued through the corrupted landscape, as they fought off various types of Eaters, including a new type of Eaters, that looked like a swarm of Eater Bits orbiting a much larger one, which was capable of using the very same abilities that Digimon used, making the fight even more difficult for the hackers. Eventually, they managed to make their way to the server transfer pad, which seemed to be malfunctioning.
"Damnit, this thing is broken... Without it, we can't change to any other servers..." Chitose cursed, as he approached it, putting his user interface out. "Hold here for a moment, I can be able to fix this, but I need time."
"We'll give you the time you need, Chitose. Just hurry..." Richard answered back, before he then noticed a large group of Eaters coming. "Incoming! Everyone, prepare for battle!"
"They must have been drawn to the erosion caused by the Eater Legion! They might be forming their own network in EDEN!" Wormmon cried.
"Another layer of security in EDEN? Then that is what might have disabled this server transfer pad... In that case...!" Chitose replied back, as he continued to hack into the server transfer pad. "I'll keep on getting this thing fixed as quickly as possible!"
The Digimon partners immediately responded, as they attacked the vanguard of the Eater swarm, as they cut, slashed, shot and burned through the Eaters, as they fell by the dozen, all the while they were attacked from all sides, as the attacks were dealing negligible damage to them, but they were piling onto each other quickly without rest, as the Digimon were beginning to get weaker from exhaustion.
"Chitose, if you're done yet... Hurry up!" Richard shouted to Chitose. "Our Digimon won't be able to hold the line any longer if you keep on delaying the repairs!"
"I'm trying, I'm trying!" Chitose shouted back, before he then received a confirmation 'ping!' from his user interface, as the server transfer pad turned blue for stable use. "It's done!"
"We can't afford to get held up here! Come on!" Ryuji yelled, as everyone followed him, as they withdrew their Digimon, as they escaped from the Eater swarm, into another server in EDEN.
"We still don't have a clue where we are though..." Chitose groaned. "All the URLs have been useless so far, so we need to find another way to find Erika and that Eater who is trying to assimilate her."
The group then noticed a digital shadow of Erika walked past them, as she turned to them, before silently gesturing them to follow her.
"It's a shadow of Erika's memory, a virtual AI of her memory that leaked from her memory server." Wormmon said. 'She's calling us...!"
"Calling us? Hehe, then let's go and get her!" Chitose spoke with a smile on his face.
They soon followed the digital shadow, as it led them to another active server transfer pad, which took them into a different area, although Keisuke and Richard were surprised that they found something familiar in the area.
They found the massive device that was Erika's memory server, lying in the centre of the area.
"This is.. It's Erika's memory server!" Wormmon cried out in shock.
They then looked up, as they found the Eater that had Erika in its captivity, as Ryuji looked at it. "Erika!" Ryuji cried.
The Eater then entered the memory server, as the large devices flickered where it entered, leaving a purple mark as it entered the memory server.
"It went into the memory server!?" Sanae cried. "But that means...!?"
"It's going to erode Erika's memories... Without them, she'll be...!" Elma gasped in horror.
"No! I won't let that happen!" Keisuke cried, as he immediately chased towards the memory server, placing his hand on the central terminal to enter it.
"Keisuke! Wait, I'm coming to help!" Richard shouted, as he joined Keisuke.
They both logged into the memory server, both of their avatars disappearing from EDEN...
