A/N: Here we go everybody, the latest chapter for all to enjoy! This one isn't quite as long as the others, there's a few things that I really didn't have time to add.
Thanks very much to everyone who reviewed, favourited or followed!
Disclaimer: I don't own digimon.
Attack
"They're alive!" Sora cried out, practically bouncing on the balls of her feet.
She and Biyomon had just been taking stock of all the provisions that had been left in this outpost when she had heard Gennai talking to someone. They had entered the bunker's main room to find the old man on the radio, beckoning them to come closer but remain quiet. That was when she had heard a voice on the radio.
"I can't believe they're alive!" she cheered along with Biyomon. "Every single one of them!"
She laughed, wiping away a couple of tears that threatened to fall from her eyes.
Gennai nodded at her glee, but his expression remained grave regardless. Sora was smart enough to pick up on these kind of signs. Having survived in the Digital World for as long as she had, you began to notice things you never would have seen before.
"Yes," Gennai spoke slowly, as Sora calmed down. "They are all alive, although Joe is wounded and neither Gabumon nor Patamon are in any condition to fight. They were very lucky."
As bad as that sounded it didn't diminish the joy Sora felt in her heart. She wasn't alone! She wouldn't have to bare the weight of the entire Digital World on her shoulders. The rush of relief and sheer happiness almost threatened to overwhelm her. Sora sat down on a nearby chair, just waiting for her heart to stop beating so fast.
"Then what's wrong, Gennai?" Biyomon asked. "You seem scared."
Sora snapped out of her trance to look straight at the old man. The lines on his face had deepened and his hands were clenched around their radio, shaking slightly. Whether it was in fear or anger, Sora didn't know.
"A-are you alright, Gennai?" Sora questioned hesitantly. "You said they were fine right?"
If he had heard either of them, he gave no indication. The old man simply put two fingers to his forehead, as if deep in thought.
"Things have the potential to become far worse than I could have ever anticipated," he answered eventually.
He leant back in his chair, breathing a great sigh.
Suddenly, the radio in front of them crackled into life once again. Sora clearly heard Matt's voice shout.
"Hey, Gennai?! What's wrong?! What did you mean 'worse'?! Hello?!"
Seeing that Gennai made no move to speak, Sora leaned forward and pressed the button.
"Hello? Matt is that you?" she asked tentatively, yet unable to hide the growing excitement in her voice.
"Sora?!" Matt's voice responded. "Good to hear from you. Is Gennai alright?"
Sora sniffled. There was no point in letting him know that she'd thought he and everyone else was dead. She could deal with those feelings on her own.
"Well he seems to be thinking about something," Sora said. "I don't know what though. Hey Matt, is Tai there?"
"Huh? Tai? Yeah he's here. Do you want to talk to him?"
"Yeah."
There was some muffled sounds through the radio as it was passed along to Tai.
"Hello? Sora?" her best friend's voice filtered though, making her sigh with relief.
Hearing that he was alive was one thing, but actually talking to him was another. All doubt erased from her heart, Sora spoke up.
"Hey Tai," she said sheepishly. "How are things on your end?"
There was what sounded like a sharp chuckle.
"Not too good at the moment," Tai answered. "Gabumon and Patamon are out of the fight and are practically useless right now-"
There was a muffled yell and Sora giggled as what was most likely an argument between Tai and Matt ensued. After a few seconds of crackles of static, Tai's voice returned.
"Sorry about that, bad connection. Anyway, Joe is also unconscious, which means we're now down two megas and an ultimate at least. Kari's... ill again, and I don't think Gatomon can digivolve without her help. So it's only me and Mimi who can go mega at the moment; with only Izzy and SaberLeomon to back us up."
Sora almost sighed in exasperation.
"And how are you feeling Tai?" she asked as sternly as she could.
She wouldn't let Tai wriggle out of this one, and he was rarely able to stand up to her when she got tough. She could practically feel the nervousness in her friend's voice as he replied.
"Me? Oh, I'm feeling fine! Never better!"
Sora frowned.
"Tai..."
She could practically see the expression that would be on his face whenever he didn't want to admit something was bothering him. It had changed over the years as he grew, becoming more guarded to those who didn't know him. Fortunately, she did know him. Perhaps better than almost anyone else.
He relented.
"I'm... exhausted Sora," he admitted, his voice low so the others wouldn't hear. "Not physcially, although fighting Piedmon took alot of me and Agumon. It's just... Kari's ill and it's taking me practically everything I have not to panic and do something stupid. I just want to charge in there, kick Machinedramon's ass and get out of this place, get back home where she can be treated."
His voice dropped another octave, the persona of an all-knowing powerful leader broke down in front of his best friend, leaving only a terrified twelve year old boy.
"He'd tear us apart if I tried that. Piedmon would have, and he seems like a pushover compared to this guy. But Kari cannot stay out here in the desert. I've made sure she gets cold towels for her face, but her temperature isn't going down... I'm really worried, Sora."
"It's alright, Tai," Sora answered softly, realising it was her turn to comfort him now.
"No, it's not alright!" he whispered back harshly. "If we go forward we'll walk into a trap and die; and if we stay here Kari will overheat and die. Then there's what Machinedramon might do if we just sit here doing nothing! The others expect me to come up with something, but I just don't know what to do!"
Sora listened patiently as Tai vented his frustrations. Once the initial panic he had been feeling had expressed itself he would calm down and begin acting like their leader once again.
"I'm just so scared to make the wrong decision and get someone killed," Tai continued, the emotion leaking out of his voice as he said it. "I don't know if I could take it. Being responsible for Kari's death would end me, I know it."
"I understand what you're feeling, Tai," Sora answered, alarmed that she herself was so familiar with the sensation of fear for the others. "Ever since those bombs went off, I'd always regretted things. I'd doubted myself and regretted every decision I made since then. I just didn't know what to do."
Tai listened silently.
"Should I go help the others, or should I continue with the mission and hope they turn out alright? I chose the mission," Sora admitted, hoping he wouldn't judge her too harshly. "I trusted in them to make it out of there alive safe and sound. For awhile there, I thought I had chosen wrong and that they were gone. The whole journey underground has been a blur to me as I tried to come to terms with their deaths. I did at least manage to save the lives of the digimon I was fighting with... for a little longer at least."
"Sora..."
"In retrospect, I guess I made the right decision, huh?" she continued. "Matt, Tk and Joe are all alive and recovering, but I didn't really learn anything from it. In that instance I trusted in my friends to make it out alive and it happened to be the right choice. What if I have to make that choice again? What if I pick wrong and leave them to die? How will I know which choice is the right one?"
"You can't know..." Tai muttered. "Not for sure. No one really knows what will happen in the future. But remember Sora, you made the right choice and should stop worrying about it. There was nothing more that you could have done. Maybe I should have realised that Machinedramon was distracting us and gone to investigate, but I didn't."
He had always been rather blunt when he was feeling awkward, Sora reminisced. Since when had this turned into a pep talk for her? Tai could be selfless, but he really didn't understand that he couldn't take on all of their burdens himself. She needed to deal with her own problems and keep from off-loading onto him.
Tai had enough pressure on him as it was.
"But despite all that I didn't give up!" she yelled, before he could say anything else. "I never thought that I'd stop fighting Machinedramon, not now and not ever! I owed it to them, to those who I thought were gone forever, to continue the fight, even if they could no longer help me. I owed them that much at the very least!"
Behind her, Gennai looked towards Sora and the powerful red glow coming out of her chest. Oblivious to this, she continued.
"So take your own advice, Tai!" she ordered. "Make your plans, make your decisions. Whatever you choose I'll be right behind you for support! All of us will. So no more of that defeatist talk, we'll find a way in there, and Kari will be fine. Understand?"
Overwhelmed by the sudden change in Sora's personality, Tai bulked.
"Y-yes, Ma'am!" he stammered, almost making her giggle.
Unable to keep the smile off of her face, Sora gave the radio back to a bemused Gennai.
"It's all yours, Gennai, tell them what the emergency is."
"Thank you," he responded before becoming serious once more. "Please place the radio in front of everyone, Tai. I want everyone to hear this."
There was some scuffling as Tai presumably did what Gennai asked, moving the radio so everyone could hear him.
"Alright, I assume you are all wondering exactly why the idea of Machinedramon having a Kimeramon is such a bad thing. Well it is beyond mere bad news. You haven't encountered it yet, to my knowledge, but some digimon can combine in order to digivolve to higher levels. This known as Jogress evolution."
"So, Machinedramon and Kimeramon can jogress then, I presume?" Izzy guessed.
"But how could they reach a higher level?" Mimi asked. "Wasn't mega the highest you can get?"
"It is," Gennai responded before anyone else could reply. "But there are different levels of power within the mega level. When a Machinedramon and a Kimeramon jogress, they become a digimon known as Milleniummon. This digimon is abnormally powerful. We cannot let a Milleniummon be created!"
"Is it really that strong?" Matt voice questioned through the radio, skepticism in his tone. "We've killed most of the Dark Masters, and they weren't that tough."
Gennai growled and slammed his fist onto the table.
"The last time a Milleniummon surfaced, it killed numerous mega digimon and nearly destroyed the four Sovereign on it's own! We cannot allow someone as dangerous as Machinedramon gain that kind of power!"
That left the chosen in a stunned silence.
"Then we'll need to attack," Tai said. "We'll need to get into where Machinedramon's holding Bastemon as fast as possible. Then we'll either rescue her, or kill her."
They didn't like it, but the sheer number of times they had nearly died on this adventure had enlightened them all to the sheer uncertainty of battle. If they couldn't simply rescue Bastemon, an enemy, then the easiest thing to do would be to kill her. If it would prevent Milleniummon from surfacing, then it would be worth it.
"We'll need as many people involved as possible for this operation," Izzy began. "You won't mind helping us, SaberLeomon?"
A deep familiar voice came through the radio.
""I will be honoured to assist, no matter the task," the proud mega replied.
Both Gennai and Sora perked up immensely.
"SaberLeomon?" Gennai breathed. "You're alive? This is very good news indeed."
"I would not perish so easily," SaberLeomon replied. "Do not worry, Gennai. Our chances might be greater than you suspect."
"Kari can't get involved," Tai's voice spoke up sternly. "She's too ill to participate in any attack. Gennai, is it possible that can you can help her? You helped me after I was captured by Myotismon."
Gennai leant back once more and stroked his chin in thought.
"It's certainly possible, although unlikely," he admitted. "I will certainly do my very best for young Kari, I promise you that."
Sora thought she heard Matt snort, but he was quickly shushed by someone else.
"Thanks Gennai. Don't worry everyone," Tai continued, and Sora could practically see the smirk on his face. "I have an idea."
Machinedramon stalked through the special containment block, making his way to a certain cell in particular. All around him, his creations gave way as he moved past him, all of them knowing their place.
He stood in front of the thick cell door as a viewscreen popped up in fornt of him. It allowed communication between the bound occupant in the room, and the one outside the door without any risk of retaliation from the prisoner. Not that he was in any condition to retaliate anyway.
"You are awake, Andromon," Machinedramon stated, not wholly surprised. "I thought it only proper to inform you that your resistance has been crushed."
Andromon lifted his head to stare heatedly at the image of Machinedramon on his door. His arms and legs were bound into the walls by large slabs of metal that even he couldn't force his way out of. That such a simple miscalculation when it came to the convoys would cost them all so much had never occured to the ultimate, and he had payed the price.
"That won't stop them," Andromon responded, unable to keep the sheer loathing for the creature in front of him out of his voice. "The digidestined are far stronger than you know. My imprisonment won't even slow them down!"
"I am aware how of insignificant you are," the Dark Master said. "But I will give you a greater purpose."
"Do you think I will ever join you?!" Andromon roared, fighting against his restraints in anger. "You're a monster beyond all comparison! I'd rather die!"
"And you will," Machinedramon said. "Your programming will be deleted and replaced with another; one loyal only to me."
"As if that'll make a difference," Andromon spat. "They are stronger than you know. Pitting me against them won't help you at all!"
"I am also aware of your inadequacy, but that can easily be remedied. There is enough spare material to make this transition possible."
Andromon frowned. What did Machinedramon mean? Could he possibly have gotten his hands on...
"From careful observation, I have determined that the source of the digidestined's strength is their emotions," Machinedramon continued, cutting off Andromon's thoughts. "Attacking these emotions by inserting doubt, trauma and conflict is the key to defeating them. You will be most useful in this regard."
The ultimate struggled as he felt the movement of large machines all around him.
"Goodbye, Andromon. You were almost a worthy adversary."
With that the viewscreen shut off and Andromon felt his cell descend down into the depths of the Dark Master's city.
Machinedramon marched on, even as he heard the muffled whirrings and clickings of moving parts not far below. He walked up to another cell that had been recently occupied and stopped in front of it.
The Dark Master stared at the interface that would allow him to communicate with the prisoner and make his demands. The conversion process overwrote a person's mind, removing whatever knowledge they once had. In this case it would be useless if Bastemon was to create a Kimeramon for him. Of course there were other threats that would convince her. That would let her make him one of the most powerful digimon to have ever lived.
He stared at the door silently.
Machinedramon turned around and walked away from the cell, heading towards the elevator that would take him down to his private chamber. Once he arrived, a screen lit up in front of him showing MetalMamemon in the command center.
"Lord Machinedramon!" the ultimate greeted with a salute.
"I am about to proceed with the upgrade," Machinedramon spoke bluntly. "I will be unavailable should something occur in my absence. You are to take command in my place."
"Sir!" MetalMamemon saluted.
"Your task is to keep the chosen from overwhelming our defences and disrupting the workings of the inner city. Use any means you see fit in order to complete your task. I have given you direct command over GigaSeadramon, as well as over Project-D in case of emergencies."
"Overwhelm?" MetalMamemon asked. "My lord, are you sure that sure the chosen will pose that much of a threat? There can't be that many of them left."
"Until you have seen their bodies fall, until you have seen the blood leave their fragile frames, until you have seen the light leave their eyes, you will assume that each digidestined is alive and a critical threat. Is that understood?"
"Y-yes, my lord!" the lieutenant responded, shocked and frightened by his lord's strange response.
"Do not make such a common mistake," Machinedramon continued unabated. "You are above that. And remember, I want Taichi Yagami alive. The others can be disposed of."
MetalMamemon nodded as the screen of his master vanished from the console he was viewing it from. He sighed, but bore himself as well as his small frame would allow him. He watched as all around him the Hagurumon worked silently at their desks.
Perhaps this wouldn't be too hard of a task. They all pretty much knew how to run the city in his lord's absence. If the digidestined didn't launch an attack, it should be an easy task to keep everything running at optimal efficiency until his master returned to take command.
"Sir, incoming transmission from Pukumon," one of the Hagurumon stated.
MetalMamemon nodded as the screen filled up with Pukumon's repulsive face. The mega frowned, instantly noticing that Machinedramon is absent.
"Where is Lord Machinedramon?" the mega asked. "Answer me."
"He is busy at the moment, and I am in command until he returns," MetalMamemon answered coldly.
Pukumon sniffed disdainfully, making MetalMamemon's hands curl. The mega's lack of respect was beginning to irritate him. He respected Machinedramon, but he was nothing but a lowly ultimate in his eyes. Something to be commanded, not a commander.
"Well I was wondering whether or not Scorpiomon had reported in yet, I haven't seen him since we had to guard those convoys," Pukumon asked, almost offhandedly. "Go ahead and take your time. I know it must be overwhelming for you."
MetalMamemon allowed himself to show no outward reaction. This little gnat wouldn't garner any primitive pleasure from annoying him. He drew up the logs on his computer, looking for Scorpiomon's signing in. He almost had to stifle a chuckle when he saw that the ultimate had never reported back.
"It seems your subordinate never reported back in," MetalMamemon told the shocked mega. "That means he's most likely dead."
"Bullshit!" Pukumon yelled. "I know he would have stayed away from the explosions like I told him too! Where is he?!"
"I guess the chosen must have gotten him," the ultimate responded, almost cackling at the anger coming off of Pukumon. "They are not to be underestimated, Pukumon."
"By the Dark Area! Which one did it?!" Pukumon demanded.
"We have no idea, all our forces were disposed off beforehand," he replied coolly.
The mega took no heed of him, signing off with a snarl. MetalMamemon leant back and looked at some minor maintenance reports to calm himself down at the blatant disrespect.
Pukumon was supposed to have told him where he would be going and what he busying himself with. Having a mega walking somewhere around the city would be useless in an emergency. He made a note to tell Machinedramon about Pukumon's insurbordination. That was likely the only way it would get solved in a timely manner.
Of course, blaming Scorpiomon's disappearance on the chosen was a good move, in his own opinion. Even though it was quite likely the dumbass had simply perished in the explosion, blaming it on the digidestined would insure that the emotionally driven mega would continue to fight for them, and not against them.
He wouldn't screw this up. Not when he was finally placed in command after being Machinedramon's lieutenant.
And that, of course, was when the alarms started blaring.
"Horn Buster!"
The powerful electrical attack slammed into the guardtower, reducing it to scrap and blinding the soldiers near it. The debris fell on the two Sealsdramon underneath it, crushing them.
MegaKabuterimon stood amongst the wreckage as the data floated up into the sky. All around him, their small army was attacking and laying waste to the city. Power lines were cut, infrastructure destroyed, all to prevent retaliation until the last moment.
They were doing their utmost best to not attack any any of the large appartment-like buildings, that presumably housed numerous scared digimon living under Machinedramon's rule.
Hidden underneath his partner's strong shell, Izzy sat there in the tight space on the lookout, safe for the moment. He soon noticed familiar shapes in the sky coming towards them.
"Alright, the real fight begins here!" he realised, before taking out the radio. "Gigadramon, Megadramon and Sinduramon have been spotted and are making their way towards us right now!"
"Understood," Gennai's voice responded. "I'll inform the others. They should be approaching the waste processing plant right now."
Izzy shut off the radio and signalled for MegaKabuterimon to put him down.
"Be safe, Izzy," the ultimate instructed.
"I will."
The boy then ran off to take shelter amongst some of the other buildings as MegaKabuterimon turned towards the incoming ultimates. Being by far the largest digimon on the battlefield, MegaKabuterimon was rather noticeable. Having fought those other three before made him even more of a familiar target as the trio swooped between the buildings to reach him.
Sinduramon took the lead, his metal body still engorged from their last encounter. He swooped inbetween the buildings, his claws screeching against the sides as he prepared to attack the insect digimon, utterly missing the yellow digimon clinging to the surface of one of those buildings.
"Howling Crusher!" SaberLeomon roared as he leapt towards the ultimate.
In a burst of light, he shot through Sinduramon's metallic body and out the other side. The large ultimate lost control of it's descent as it crashed into the ground, disappating into data as it did so.
Megadramon and Gigadramon quickly began to pull up away from the buildings, recognising the trap for what it was.
"Horn Buster!"
The attack shot towards them and enveloped Gigadramon in an explosion that shook the ground. Fighting through the pain, the ultimate reared back, flying into the air along with Megadramon and out of the range of SaberLeomon's claws.
SaberLeomon growled at the two ultimates who were now flying in circles around their position, planning their next move.
"We almost managed to take out both of them," the mega stated, landing next to MegaKabuterimon. "Not bad for a first strike."
"They have more reinforcements though," MegaKabuterimon noted, observing the rest of their forces keeping the other soldiers at bay some distance away. "We have to finish this and make it as showy as possible!"
They looked towards the two flying ultimates who had apparently decided to attack again. The two had flown in opposite directions of each other, forcing MegaKabuterimon and SaberLeomon to move back to back to keep an eye on both of them.
Their claws opened up, revealing large numbers of missiles pointed towards them. The two ultimates continued to move in a circle as they unleashed numerous missiles at the two digimon in the center.
"Hop on!" MegaKabuterimon roared to SaberLeomon as the missiles came in.
The mega complied as the ultimate took to the skies, evading the missiles that struck their former position and turned the site into a wasteland. Megadramon and Gigadramon then flew towards them, their claws surrounded by the glow of energy blades.
"Howling Crusher!"
SaberLeomon leapt towards Megadramon, his own claws glowing with a bright yellow light whilst MegaKabuterimon fired another Horn Buster at Gigadramon.
Gigadramon powered through the attack and struck MegaKabuterimon in the chest, throwing him backwards uncontrollably and into a nearby building.
SaberLeomon's attack collided directly with Megadramon's. The two struggled for supremacy, but SaberLeomon won out. Ripping through Megadramon's blades he struck the ultimate in the chest hard enough to rip it in two.
Megadramon faded into data as SaberLeomon fell helplessly through the air. He looked around helplessly as he saw Gigadramon charge at him.
"Uh oh," he said, right before the ultimate batted him down towards the ground with it's tail.
He smashed into the concrete hard enough to leave a small crater. SaberLeomon stood up, his fur acting like armour from the blows, not to mention cushioning his fall.
The mega looked up just in time to see another volley of missiles strike his position. The explosion shook the ground as Gigadramon's volley exploded on top of the mega over and over again.
Gigadramon roared, its claws glowing once again. It shot towards the downed SaberLeomon at supersonic speeds, ready to finish the mega off once and for all.
"Horn Buster!"
The electric attack was timed perfectly. It impacted the ultimate, and knocked him far off course. The explosion blew him away and through the ground near SaberLeomon.
The mega shakily got up just in time to see the stream of data come out of the hole, signifying Gigadramon's destruction. He relaxed, watching as MegaKabuterimon slowly made his way back towards him.
"Thank you for the assistance," SaberLeomon said sincerely. "That would have been painful had it connected."
"No problem."
"Sir, we have Tankdramon incoming!" a nearby Gladimon reported, his armour shaking a little due to nervousness.
"It seems Machinedramon is getting serious," MegaKabuterimon remarked.
"We need to hold them off for as long as possible," SaberLeomon answered, eyeing the ground floors of the buildings nervously. "We're unlikely to get back-up. At least not yet."
"Then lets keep fighting for as long as we can!" MegaKabuterimon responded, turning to see the ever approaching line of Tankdramon, Mekanorimon and numerous other machine digimon that he couldn't be bothered to name.
'Please hurry you guys, we're not going to last for very long,' was the ultimate's last thought before he charged.
MetalMamemon cursed as numeorus reports about the attack kept on coming in. Damage reports, casualties, projected casualties, revised strategems, failing efficiency reports.
The ultimate looked at the map of the city. As of now the chosen were assaulting the city from only one direction. Machinedramon told him to treat the situation as if all the chosen were at full strength.
If that was true then where were they?
Reports indicated that only a MegaKabuterimon and an unidentified mega were at the scene, whereas the digidestined should be able to field far more than that, even if they were missing a few members.
Whilst privately, he liked to conclude that more than a few of them had been killed by the decoys, his master's orders took precedent.
With the information available to him the conclusion was obvious.
"This is not the main assault force," MetalMamemon muttered to himself, looking at the map in disdain. "This is just a distraction, but where would the actual attack take place?"
He looked over the map, noting no particular structural weaknesses in the lines of defence.
"Send reinforcements from the opposing side to the battle, but maintain all other troop positions," he ordered. "They wouldn't be able to sneak a larger force around the side of the city without us noticing."
He would hold off on sending in the megas for now. They would be saved for the true attack, most likely lead by Taichi Yagami himself. Whatever it was his master wanted with that particular boy eluded him completely.
The ultimate continued to watch the monitors as more and more reports filed in.
MetalMamemon growled. He hated reacting instead of acting, but there was no base for which to attack, no point o contend. Their base had already been utterly destroyed with no survivors to speak of, something Pukumon had been very keen to make sure of.
So until they made their move, he could do little but sit there and wait to call the megas in on them and hopefully catch them off guard.
Mimi leant around the corner, observing the patrolling Sealsdramon on the catwalks above them. None of them had deserted their posts since the initial attack had begun. If anything, they had all become more alert, their patrolling faster and more efficient than before.
"Alright," she said, gesturing towards the others. "It looks like we're clear. Ready, Palmon?"
"Ready!"
Tai and Matt, along with their partners, watched as both Mimi and Palmon were enveloped in a green glow and Rosemon took their place. The mega was crouched, her keen eyes targeting the remaining guards around them.
"Move forwards only when I say," Rosemon ordered, vanishing from their sight.
Tai moved forwards, peeking around the corner to observe whilst Matt stood next to Agumon, whilst holding Tsunomon in his arms. He watched as Rosemon darted in and out, using her superior speed to her advantage to get rid of the guards one by one.
It wasn't long before the all-clear was given and the four of them ran forwards towards the marked door. Rosemon appeared out of nowhere in front of them, nearly startling the life out of them all.
Utterly unapologetic, she easily broke down the metal doors and tossed them aside like wet tissue paper. Inside revealed a dark, ominous stairway leading downwards.
"Prepare yourselves, guys," Matt said. "This sight isn't going to be pretty."
"What do you mean?" Tai asked, as they began their journey. "It's just a little sewage, we've done it before."
"Not that."
Matt seemed distracted, almost hesitant to go down there. Tsunomon as well seemed somehwat nervous, biting his lip and shaking a little.
"Why? What's down there?" Rosemon asked, her thorn rapier appearing in her right hand. "Is it a threat?"
"Not physically," Matt answered frowning, noticing the telltale glow of blue powercables in the walls. "They're Commandramon."
"Commandramon?" Agumon verified. "I don't think I've ever heard of that digimon before."
"That's because they aren't really a kind of digimon," Matt continued, looking down into the darkness blankly. "They're what we call thos unfortunate enough to be captured and 'converted' by Machinedramon."
Stunned silence met this.
"They have... parts sticking out of them," Matt muttered. "Their memories of who they were, what they once stood for, or even who they might have loved are gone, to be replaced by nothing but devotion to that... monster."
"A-are they dangerous?" Agumon questioned.
"No. Not unless they're ordered to be."
The stairs ended and they soon came upon one of the saddest sights Tai had ever seen in his life. Numerous cogwheels and gears all turned within one another. Great furnaces roared, and large drills span, but none of the noise in the room could distract from the sight of those manning the machines.
Each a different size, a different shape, a different colour; all perverted and twisted and subdued by wires and bits of metal. Lights blinked on and off their cursed cyborg bodies as they worked tirelessly, without rest or nourishment until their master was satisfied.
None of them turned to look at the strangers who had entered. None of them even slowed down in their work.
Matt continued to walk forwards through the underground factory, the others following after him hesitantly. Rivers of waste from the few organic inhabitants left in the city were purged far below them and the waste products put to more useful ends.
"If we want to get this plan going, now's the time to do it," Matt said, giving Tai a side glance.
The Victory Tamer just stood there, staring down at the hundreds, possibly thousands, of what were once living, breathing, thinking digimon. On the level just below the one they were standing Tai saw what was once an Elecmon, it's overworked parts sparking as it pulling a cart laden with coal towards a nearby furnace. It didn't even look up.
Appalled, he looked away only to see another one collapse, unable to work due to it's seized up parts. Immediately, two more Commandramon carried it off and dumped it into the furnace.
It didn't react.
The door was shut and Tai saw the flames swell.
Anger overtook him, he found himself breathing heavily, his fingers almost cutting into his palms he was clenching them so hard.
"Agumon!" Tai roared, grabbing his digivice.
Some of the Sealsdramon noticed the cry, immediately leaping towards them.
The rookie took on a determined look, before nodding at Tai and a bright orange light filled the room, intense enough that Matt had to cover his eyes. The incoming Sealsdramon never had a chance.
"Terra Force."
"Sir, the alarm has been raised at the Waste Processing Plant!" a Hagurumon reported. "We have live feed from a Sealsdramon."
The screen was filled with vision of one of their Sealsdramon standing outside the plant. A bright orange light filled the lower windows and an explosion rang out, sending smoke flying through all the windows as the building collapsed into the ground.
The vision suddenly zoomed in, into the sky as a Rosemon ascended into the air, a thorn rapier in hand. The screen suddenly shifted as the sounds of torn metal and a howling wind overtook the audio receivers.
The Sealsdramon turned to see another large figure, shrouded in snow, marching it's way through rows upon rows of soldiers with all the effort comparable to walking through a meadow.
The soldier didn't have time to attack however, as it's screen was quickly filled up with
"Two megas?!" MetalMamemon yelled. "They're attacking the waste processing plant!. Quickly, divert all available forces towards the plant!"
"Yes sir, cancelling the reinforcements for the frontal defences," one of the Hagurumon replied emotionlessly.
The ultimate growled in frustration. Their usual troops and support would get slaughtered against two megas.
"We'll send in Pukumon!" MetalMamemon demanded. "Where is he?!"
"Sir, he's not responding to any hailing frequencies!"
"Where is he?!"
More alarms began blaring and the rooms shook a little. The lights briefly dimmed before returning to normal.
"What's going on?!" MetalMamemon questioned, eyes darting despearately from one report to another as they continued to pour in. "What just happened?!"
"We're reporting power failures on multiple levels! Multiple power lines have been destroyed around the main battlefield!"
"Directing stations 10-25 are down!"
"Transformers 23-a through 73-d have reported serious damage of overloading!"
"Communications in that area are down!"
MetalMamemon panicked as lights across his battlefield faded, leaving them blind. How in the Dark Area had they managed that?! The Waste Processing Plant wouldn't allow such access to their systems, not so quickly anyway!
'No!' he realised, looking at the ground in front of him as he remembered Machinedramon's words.
'Assume that each digidestined is alive and a critical threat.'
'He didn't mean that they would all participate in the attack!' MetalMamemon thought with growing dread. 'He meant that I should assume there were still digidestined alive down underground!'
Sora grinned as she plunged her hand into another panel and pulled out as many wires as she could. They sparked, almost as if protesting this treatment before she threw them down to the ground.
With a groan, she pulled herself along the maintenance hatch until she came to the opening. Dropping down into the sewers next to Biyomon, the little rookie matched her smile, wires hanging out of her beak.
Sora resisted the urge to hug her partner and instead took out her radio.
"Gennai come in, this is Sora!" she yelled on the radio. "Me and Biyomon have pulled out all the wires and burnt down all those substations. We're ready to head to the next phase!"
"Good work Sora," Gennai responded. "Judging by the panic you've cause I think Tai and Matt should be on their way to meet you. Just be sure to be quick! We don't want you to get caught."
"Understood!" Sora answered. "Let's go, Biyomon!"
"Right!" the rookie said, as the two turned and ran down the corridors towards the meeting point.
Tai and Matt wouldn't want to be kept waiting.
"Damn it, damn it, damn it!" MetalMamemon roared, making the Hagurumon back off and resume their duties.
The situation had escalated into total pandemonium so quickly. He had underestimated the digidestined's capabilities, just like so many others had before. His master would be furious with him if he didn't find a way to turn this situation around.
"We can't hail Pukumon since communications are cut," he said to himself. "But there are still the private lines that Machinedramon gave me. If this doesn't qualify as an emergency, then I don't know what does."
He quickly brought up the access codes for GigaSeadramon. The digimon also harboured a full battalion within itself, making it perfect to deal with the two new megas that had materialised out of nowhere.
"GigaSeadramon, report to the battlefield!" MetalMamemon ordered. "Coordinates uploaded!"
There was an electronic confirmation of his orders, before the map showed the enormous digimon enroute to deal with the two megas. MetalMamemon allowed himself a small smile.
'GigaSeadramon along with the rest of the reinforcements should be more than enough to deal with those two. Fighting outside the city will allow him to utilise his ability to move through the ground as well as the air to it's full potential. Now if I could just contact Pukumon...'
As if on cue, one of the monitors flickered and the screen of the mega in question appeared.
"MetalMamemon, what in the Dark Area is going on?! Why did the lights go out all of a sudden?!" the mega demanded rudely.
"The digidestined are attacking the city with everything they have!" MetalMamemon responded curtly, not having the time to be offended by the mega right now. "Report to the frontline now!"
Pukumon bristled.
"I will report to the frontline, but not because you're 'ordering' me too," he said, pointing a finger at the screen. "I'm after only one thing, and that's whoever killed Scorpiomon."
With that, Pukumon vanished from the screen, leaving it static.
MetalMamemon groaned and leant back in his chair. Everything was falling apart, and it was all because he had misinterpretated Lord Machinedramon's instructions. If he had anticipated the possibility of some of the resistance escaping...
All of a sudden, a certain button caught the ultimate's eye. It was bright red and labelled with big white letters: Project-D. A glass case covered it to prevent accidental pressing of the button.
Lord Machinedramon had mentioned that Project-D was a prototype and only to be activated if absolutely necessary. Looking at the command center, half of the lights fading in and out and numerous monitors showing nothing but static. The Hagurumon were running around, trying to sort out reports whilst simultaneously commanding the troops in attack formations and defensive strategies, as well as killzones and false ambushes.
Some of them were overloading from all the work.
Deciding to take his chances, MetalMamemon leant in...
"Good to see you, Vikemon!" Rosemon laughed, dispatching another Sealsdramon rather easily. "I'm surprised you managed to get here."
"Once Joe recovered it wasn't too bad," the mega breathed, his sheer cold preventing the digimon from approaching him.
'Yeah, but I'm still injured and exhausted,' Joe thought. 'We're nowhere near full power right now.'
'Don't worry, Joe,' Gomamon answered. 'I guarantee you that this time there won't be any sudden explosions.'
'Why do I suddenly feel so nervous?' Joe muttered.
'Hey!'
Rosemon dived forwards, avoiding missile fire from the nearby Tankdramon and slicing through each of them in turn. She floated back over to Vikemon as they exploded into data.
"Did Tai and Matt go off alright?" Vikemon asked.
"They did and should be meeting up with Sora anytime now," Rosemon responded, before looking into the distance. "I think the plan is working, they're utterly focused on us."
"Well unless they divert more guards to the prison block, we're in with a shot at making this plan work," Vikemon said, drawing his morning star in preparation for the next wave of enemies.
"I just hope Kari and Tk made it safely to Gennai's," Rosemon muttered. "You know Tai and Matt'll-"
A sudden rumble interrupted her. Near Vikemon, the ground seemed to open up as a huge metal serpent rose out of the ground. It took to the air, flying around the battlefield and watching them through it's dead red eyes.
The two megas stood paralysed at the sight, even as the gargantuan digimon came round towards them for an attack.
"I-is that MetalSeadramon?!" Vikemon asked, before the massive digimon opened his mouth.
"Giga Sea Destroyer."
Energy gathered at it's mouth and a powerful blue energy beam shot out of it's mouth towards the two megas. Regaining their senses, Rosemon flew high into the air as Vikemon readied Mjollnir to try and deflect it.
With a sound like thunder, the attack collided and easily pushed the mega backwards into the desert.
Vikemon continued to resist with all his might, his teeth gritted, his arms shaking he held back the full fury of this new threat. He stumbled backwards and managed to throw the attack upwards, where it exploded with enough force to blow away all the clouds in the sky.
He panted looking forwards to where Rosemon was deftly trying to avoid the much larger mega. GigaSeadramon was fast in the air, but not as fast as Rosemon who could outmaneuver him without too much trouble.
"Is that MetalSeadramon?" he asked himself, looking at the numerous additions that had been made ot their old foe.
Slowly, the pieces put themselves together in Vikemon's head.
"He converted him?! His own comrade?!" Vikemon growled.
No depravity was too low if it would give Machinedramon an advantage in battle. Vikemon lifted Mjollnir, and charged towards the fight. Rosemon wouldn't be able to win on her own.
Gennai nearly started when the door burst open, revealing an exhausted Tk and Izzy, who was carrying Kari on his back. Sweat dripped off of the short boy's brow as he lowered the girl onto a nearby cot, so that Gennai could take a good look at her.
"I can't make any promises," the old man said, feeling Kari's forehead. "But I will do my absolute best, I assure you."
"Right," Izzy panted. "It worked though; the whole distraction tactic. Kari and Tk are here safe and sound, and none of them suspect a thing!"
Gennai smiled, taking small bits of plants out of nearby cupboards.
"Indeed," he agreed. "You should probably be getting back to the battle though. Your partner might need all the help he can get."
Izzy nodded and made to leave, but Tk's hand on his shirt stopped him.
"Why can't me and Tokomon help?!" he asked. "Matt's helping without a digimon, and Joe's still injured. Why can't we do anything?!"
'Why do I have to deal with an emotional eight year old?' Izzy thought to himself, before putting his hands on Tk's shoulders.
"Because Tai needed someone to guide him to where he can meet with Sora in order to take out Bastemon. Joe, despite being injured, can still digivolve into a mega. Whereas you-"
Izzy paused. Perhaps telling the eight year old he was useless for the moment wouldn't be very tactical. Tk, rather like his brother, seemed somewhat prone to fits of emotion. Which was something Izzy really didn't want to deal with right now.
"You're needed to guard Kari until she recovers," Izzy corrected, inwardly cheering as Tk's face brightened. "It's your job to keep her safe until she's better, ok?"
"Yes, sir!" Tk responded.
"Good. I'll radio you when I get there," Izzy yelled to Gennai as he ran out of the room. "Stay safe!"
MegaKabuterimon breathed hard. Things had eased up since that explosion in the distance, so he presumed the plan was working and that Machinedramon had taken the bait.
Making sure the battlefield wasn't too hectic for Izzy to escape into the sewer system with Kari and Tk in order to get the two litle ones to Gennai had been the riskiest part of the plan, but as far as he could tell it had payed off so far.
Getting Tai and Matt into the sewers under the Waste Processing Plant was also a big bonus. Now they could meet up wth Sora and hopefully deal with Bastemon before she could create a Kimeramon for the Dark Master to jogress with.
Looking out towards the battle, he could see the fighting had died down a bit. Numerous digimon had fallen, but now the survivors were scattered around the desecrated city in small groups, ready to leap out on any more of Machinedramon's soldiers.
"Things are beginning to look clear!" SaberLeomon spoke joyfully.
For a moment, MegaKabuterimon was jealous of the noble mega; he barely even looked winded despite all the fighting they'd been through. Whereas the ultimate was exhausted. His arms hurt and he felt completely drained of energy.
Clearly the mega level was in a league of it's own.
"Another wave is coming," SaberLeomon noted, his hackles rising with excitement.
MegaKabuterimon looked out where to his horror he could see another wave of Sealsdramon, Tankdramon and Mekanorimon on their way towards them. He felt his heart plummet.
"Needle Squall!"
SaberLeomon leapt to the side to avoid a number of large metal spikes that stuck into the ground. He growled up at a new small figure that had just entered the battle.
"Hey there," Pukumon greeted, his muscular arms folded together as he looked between the two digimon.
"You're Pukumon aren't you?" SaberLeomon asked. "MetalSeadramon's former lieutenant?"
"I'm pleased you've heard of me."
"Why are you working for Machinedramon?!" MegaKabuterimon demanded. "Your boss is gone, why not just quit?"
Pukumon chuckled.
"Because I desire to rule over those weaker than me," he stated simply. "There's no great secret to it. Those who are weaker should die, whereas the strongest will survive."
SaberLeomon growled whilst MegaKabuterimon got ready to fight for his life.
"That is the will of the world."
A/N: So what did you guys think? Please feel free to tell me what you liked or didn't like in the reviews, or even PM me. I always love to hear your thoughts.
Questions:
Ultima-owner:There have been Kimeramon in the past, although they were very rare.
Digi-fanCapp:He did indeed battle Tai. Although why he feels so strongly about it is still a mystery.
PauloPT90:Machinedramon appears to have his own ideas about what to do with her. Why will become clear later.
GigaSeadramon carrying the X-Antibody might be used, especially if a powerful boost is needed later. Of course, who exactly will get the power boost is another question entirely.
I'm not going to include Ryo. His timeline is complicated enough as it is (even after reading TV Tropes's summary of it), and still makes little logical sense. So no, Ryo won't be included.
The Holy Ring thing didn't really make much sense, considering that Biyomon also has a Holy Ring on her leg. I thought 02 made her lose it so that she wouldn't be as strong as a champion anymore, and so would actually NEED to armour digivolve.
Thank you everyone for your support in this story!
Hope you all enjoyed!
Update next monday!