Authors Note: 200 reviews! Wow! Thank you all so much for getting us this far. A special shout out to Zeromaru Chaos Mode for being lucky number 200!
Also sorry this chapter is a bit late (again). I was feeling stressed when writing this, so we took a step back for a week. I'm glad we did, since we were able to have a good back and forth and really address what we wanted to do. I know we should keep a good schedule, but I figure you guys would rather want better quality than a schedule you can set your clock by.
Chapter 49: The Cogs Begin to Turn
The beam of light winked off over Takato and gentle hands began to take off the wires attached to his body. Slowly, Takato cracked open his eyes, finding a woman with short, closely cropped hair smiling over him as she worked. Daisy, her name was, or at the very least the only name Takato ever knew her by back during the D-Reaper conflict. Per Riley's orders and delivered by Himiko, he was the last of this round of scans – the previous ones involving Ryo, Ayaka, Jeri, Henry and Rika (the last two done at the same as him) – to gather information on what had been done to them and whether or not Ayaka's condition was shared by all of them.
So far, it appeared to be the case, although there were some…differences.
"Now this is interesting," Janyu said as Takato hopped off the scanning bed, Gigimon quickly bouncing over to him and hopping into his arms. "Daisy, could you come have a look at this?"
The blond-haired woman patted Takato's shoulder and went over to see what Janyu found so fascinating. Glancing over his shoulder, her eyes widened in amazement.
"Oh wow! Now that's special."
"Uh… What?" Takato asked, arching his eyebrows a bit worriedly. From what he remembered from his time cooperating with the Monster Makers, what they found interesting sometimes meant trouble for everyone else.
"The data that you have inside your body is similar to your friend and my son," Janyu indicated Henry and Rika, who were both standing by the door while Renamon stood just off to the side, watching Terriermon amuse himself with cartwheels. "You have digital and what we called 'library' data, but there's something else with it that's not like them or any of the others. I'm…not sure what it is at the moment, but…"
Frowning, Janyu began to look through the records, but after a moment he offered the group of digimon and teenagers a smile. "Well… It looks like this is going to take a while. I'm afraid I can't give you much more than this right now." His eyes settled on Henry, and his expression lost some of its eager curiosity, remembering that his son had been dragged into this business with Mnemosyne. "We'll…have to talk more later when we have more to work with."
His eyes met Henry's gray ones, promising that their conversation would be a particularly important one.
"So is there anything else you need from us?" Rika asked, quite relieved, as selfish as it may be, her data signature was the exact same as Henry's. After learning Jeri had the data signature of the D-Reaper and Himiko taking her to work before school tentatively restarting next week with the echoes seemingly under control for the most part now, she was worried that the Dark Ocean had affected her data signature.
Even now she could hear the crashing waves, and every so often she would see the gaunt faces of those still trapped inside their own personal hell. She wasn't sure what was worse - being weak enough to fall into that cesspool to begin with, or being unable to help those trapped inside. With the Digital hellscape refusing to even leave her dreams, and the teenager unable to sleep alone ever since she got back due to the new horrors her mind reminded her of on a daily basis, she feared she was irrevocably fucked up - more so than usual.
However, if there was no signs of the Dark Ocean in her, maybe, just maybe there was hope for her yet.
"No, I believe that's all for now," Janyu said, shaking his head. "We'll be sure to contact you if anything more comes up."
"We play now?" Gigimon chirped in Takato's arms, his red tail wagging delightedly now that the boredom of just standing around was done and over with. Chasing his tail until he was dizzy was fun, but after a while it became rather repetitive, and Renamon wouldn't let him play with her tail.
"Sure thing, boy," Takato smiled, patting his partner's head. Henry kept his eyes on him though, his expression unreadable, wishing that he could trust him again as he used to – as he knew that he normally would if not for the Dark Ocean's impact on all of them.
I wish I wasn't looking at him like he was a time bomb ready to go off at any moment, he thought, his hands tightening around his arms briefly before letting them go.
"Thanks Dad," the dark-haired boy said, collecting his partner. "Thank you Daisy. We'll keep in touch."
With that, Henry opened up the door and the group filed out of the room.
"So…" began Takato as the door clicked behind them. "What happens now?"
"I'm going home," Henry replied simply. "I'm going to go over my notes…see if there's anything that can be used to deal with this data that we have inside of us."
Takato nodded and glanced over at Rika briefly before returning his attention to Gigimon.
"I guess we'll head home too. I'm still grounded after all."
"Actually, before you leave, I would like to have a word with you Mr. Matsuki," Himiko said approaching, a cup of coffee in her hand before glancing at Rika. "I also want to talk to you Rika, but you and I can talk at home. Renamon, I assume you can make sure she gets home safely?"
"Of course," the kitsune nodded, already switching back to her human form after leaving the Hypnos section of the building. After all, the organization was still a secret one and the vulpine didn't want to be the one to blow it's cover.
"Someone is in trouble," Terriermon giggled with glee, riding on Henry's head.
"Be nice, Terriermon," Henry said before hesitantly nodding to Takato. "Good luck."
"Moumentai," Terriermon assured his partner, patting his head before purposefully messing up Henry's hair knowing full well it irked his partner when he did that. Which, if anything, was more of a reason to do it then not to.
Takato gave him a small smile. "And to you guys too."
Henry simply nodded, finding nothing more to say and started off, giving him only one more glance as he did so.
"See ya later," Rika said with a wave of her hand, Renamon nodding politely, before falling in step with Henry, the two humans and two Digimon stepped into the elevator, the door closing and leaving Takato and Gigimon with Himiko.
Takato swallowed a lump in his throat and waved back at Rika, not trusting himself to speak. Taking a deep breath, he steeled himself and turned toward Himiko.
"You said you wanted to talk to me?" he asked, taking the plunge.
"Yes," she answered simply, reaching into her pocket and pulling out a card. "I spoke with Ms. Katou, and I got the name for her psychologist. He's also been helping a great deal with those who have been affected by the echoes, either by the 'dead' coming back to life or some other trauma born to them, such as being caught in an explosion such as Mr. Wong."
She held out the small rectangular piece of paper, continuing.
"I spoke to the director, and she agreed with me it was worthwhile to invest in funding a psychologist to make sure your head is on straight if we ever need you or the other Tamers. I hope we won't need to turn to children once again, but it is something which should be kept in mind," she continued. "I have scheduled appointments for you Sunday mornings. If you ever feel the need to talk to him outside of your regular sessions, do not hesitate to call. I have informed him that you are a high priority patient due to your … ties with the Digital World."
Takato nodded. "Okay," he said simply before hesitating. "Thanks. I… Ms. Hata, I know you're just doing your job, but…thanks." Another pause. "About what you said earlier to Rika… Are you going to get her help too?"
'No thanks are needed. I am merely doing my job," she said shrugging her shoulders before hesitating, wondering if she should answer his second question."I wish to, but you can't help someone who does not wish to be."
While Rika appeared to be doing well and handling the change very well on the outside, it wasn't like Himiko was blind to the subtle changes. The exhaustion. The muffled crying at night. Sometimes, when she thought she was alone, there was a certain hollowness to her eyes.
She had talked it over with Seiko and Rumiko, and while all three were of the opinion Rika should - needed - to get professional help, the question remained would she open up about it? Rika barely talked to people she trusted about how she felt. The chances of her talking to a stranger, even if it was one who would help her, was practically nothing.
Takato chewed over his lip. He hated the idea of Rika suffering in silence, but he couldn't see how he could help her. He had caused her enough problems already, but surely there had to be something!
"Maybe Jeri can help her," he suggested. "I mean, she cares about Rika a lot, and I know she's one of Rika's closest friends. If there's anyone who could help her…it'd be her. I'm sure of it."
He rubbed Gigimon's scales. "She would know better than anyone about what she's going through after all."
Himiko shrugged. While she didn't disagree with it - Ms. Katou was on the very short list of Rika's friends Himiko approved of - she didn't want to force anything and ruin any chances. Aunt Seiko had suggested to simply wait and watch at the moment and make sure Rika understood that if she ever wanted to talk, they would listen. Not to mention, the psychologist hint had been dropped several times already, and Himiko noticed the more it was brought up, the more agitated she became.
She's so troublesome, she thought with a tired sigh.
"Right now we are waiting and seeing. Renamon seems to be doing well looking after her, and as long as she doesn't get deleted, I don't think Rika would get pulled back into the Dark Ocean again," Himiko responded neutrally. "Being friends-" just the way she said it made it clear of her continued distaste of this notion - "with Rika, I'm sure you are well aware that pushing her only makes things more needlessly difficult due to her stubbornness I swear she inherited from her mother. We are handling it though."
Takato nodded. "I know, but…if there's one thing I've learned about being her friend, it's that, sometimes, you do have to fight her on some things so that she'll fight for herself." He gave Gigimon a light squeeze. "I know I'm not saying it right. I'm not good at this sort of thing. I just know that there are times where she does need to be pushed. I'm sure that's how she got out of the Dark Ocean."
His expression twisted a little. "But… I don't know. Maybe I really don't know her all that well after all. I just…"
Clenching his teeth, Takato shook his head and then bowed to Himiko. "Sorry for taking up your time. Have a good day, Ms. Hata."
Through some miracle - helped by bringing up the coffee to her lips - Himiko found herself able to swallow back a snarky, decidedly unprofessional comment, nodding to the boy as he left.
###
Riding the elevator down with Henry, Renamon and Terriermon, she glanced at her best friend - the non furry one - chewing on her bottom lip. With the nightmares lately of the horrible red sky, she had recalled in the hospital before she was pulled into the Dark Ocean Henry talking about seeing Suzie die or something. While the exact details of that conversation were hazy, considering she was more preoccupied with other things, she remembered something about it catching her attention.
"Hey Henry, can I talk to you about something?" she asked finally, the elevator dinging before finally opening to the lobby.
Henry turned his gray eyes toward her. "What's up?"
Taking off her lanyard, handing it to the secretary near the door, she didn't answer until they were outside.
"I remember you talking about something regarding … Suzie dying before I got pulled into the Dark Ocean," she began slowly. "It was at the hospital, shortly after you almost got killed in that explosion. Can you remind me what that was about?"
Henry frowned, glancing away. "It…wasn't really Suzie," he said. "It was an echo of some kind, only…" Sighing he ran a hand through his hair. "I don't know. It certainly looked like her, but she looked like she had gone too many days without eating right. You know, like all those people we see on the news who live in war zones? She looked like that."
His eyes narrowed. "The problem is, she never looked like that."
He shifted slightly. "Anyway," he continued, "she was running from a D-Reaper agent, and…well…it…" His hand tightened into a fist. "…killed her."
"Moumentai. She's safe and sound, and trying to figure out how to woo her 'prince,'" Terriermon assured him, not really knowing about this little bit of information, wondering if he should demand a full rundown with detailed notes and explanations when they got home.
Rika was quiet for a moment, looking up to the blue sky, overcast with some clouds. There was a 40 percent chance it would rain later in the afternoon, according to the weatherman.
"I have dreams where you, me and Kenta were the only Tamers left alive after the battle with the D-Reaper," she said quietly after a moment. "The D-Reaper killed the rest and stained the sky red. Takato was the first to go, and we didn't exactly know what happened until later. It was like he disappeared. None of us knew what happened to Jeri. Kazu died. So did Suzie. Sometimes I get the feeling there was others who died as well, but I can't remember their names when I wake up. There is always a feeling of hopelessness though in those dreams."
Henry hesitated before speaking again.
"Do you think that's because of what happened to you in the Dark Ocean?" he asked carefully. "If the TV show is any indication, and from what I've been hearing from the others, it seems to be doing its best to mess around with everyone's head. Maybe it can do the same thing to memories, just like Mnemosyne did."
Rika shook her head.
"I had them before I fell into it," she admitted. "It's why I remember you talking about it. I made note of it because it caught my interest; I had remembered some sort of memorial service." She looked at Henry. "The echoes haven't shown us lies before. Why would it start now?"
"Maybe Mnemosyne wasn't fully destroyed," Henry suggested, causing Renamon to stir next to Rika, but as yet she said nothing, merely listening so as to get as much information as she could. "I mean, Mnemosyne has been playing with our memories for years, reconstructing them so that we remember things differently."
"Alternatively, it could be that if it's not Mnemosyne, perhaps the Dark Ocean has found a way to make echoes of its own to unsettle everyone," added Renamon. "Psychological warfare is a common means to disrupt an enemy, and if what I've heard about that place is any indication it fits."
"Or maybe Rika's just going crazy," Terriermon added, quickly catching on to the undercurrent of what they were saying, deciding to simply bring it out into the open bar any dancing around the issue.
Frustration and anger gnawed inside her, and she was beginning to immediately regret talking about it.
"Except it's not," she insisted, growling. "Can't you tell the difference between a fake memory and a real one? Because I sure as hell can."
"Easy there," Henry replied, holding up a placating hand. "I think I should remind you that until our memories came back, we had a hard time telling the fake from the real. Even I thought I was going crazy for a while."
He frowned at his friend. "You're serious about this. Can you tell me why you feel so strongly about it?"
He blinked, suddenly picking up on the last thing she had said. "Wait… You have your memories back…don't you?"
"Yes…" Rika said slowly, looking at him like he lost his mind. She's had them back for a few weeks now. Why was he acting like this is some new thing? "Hence why I feel so strongly about it. The more which come through, they don't feel fake like the others do. Just … wrong. Like looking at your body even though you are right there. It's hard to put it exactly to words. Surreal maybe?"
Henry shook his head in amazement. "Rika… When did you get your memories back?! Why didn't you tell anyone about this?"
Renamon raised an eyebrow at this and nudged Rika's arm with one elbow. "Rika?" she prompted.
"Yeah, Rika. What gives?" Terriermon added on.
"Before I got dragged into the Dark Ocean. You know after…" Rika glanced at Renamon, her thought not finishing but the implication was pretty clear. "The shock … I didn't say anything?"
Henry shook his head while Renamon furrowed her brow.
"No…" Henry replied. "You never said anything…to anyone!"
"Oops," Rika mumbled apologetically.
"Not…exactly," Renamon said to her partner after a moment's thought. "You did bring up topics with Takato when you talked to him, but I believe he was a little too distracted to notice."
"Wait, Henry blinked. "Talk with Takato? What…?"
"He asked Himiko to 'take care of him' if he got dangerous, and I basically was asking him what the heck," Rika said shrugging her shoulders. "Then I told him to see a psychologist."
"Pot, meet kettle," Terriermon muttered under his breath.
"I'm…not even going to scold you for that," Henry sighed, massaging his forehead. "Kami…"
Take care of him if he became dangerous… So even Takato's thinking about that.
He glanced over his shoulder back in the direction of Hypnos, wondering if their friend – a dark part of him wondering if he could be considered as one still – was already on his way home. Digging out his cell phone, he began to type up a message.
"Rika…" He shook his head as he finished typing up the message and scrolled through his address book until he found Takato's number. "I can't even be mad at you for that either. But…" Reaching out, he placed a hand on the girl's shoulder. "…you might want to consider your own advice."
Renamon folded her arms across her chest, eyeing Rika warily as she guessed what her response would be.
"So I've been told by literally everyone else it seems," she grumbled. "I'm fine though."
"Ah yes, because you are the model for mental stability and emotional wellbeing," Terriermon shot back sarcastically, deciding that being given an inch meant he could run a few hundred miles with it.
"Terriermon…" Henry warned, tapping his head with his knuckles before glancing back at Rika. "You can't fool me you know, and I doubt you've fooled Renamon. You and I have sparred often enough that I can pick up on your body language. You're tense. Way more than usual. And sometimes, I've noticed, when you're looking at Takato or even me…even Jeri…it like you're seeing someone else."
"I don't want to talk about it," Rika nearly growled, giving Henry a look to drop it. She didn't need some shrink; she could handle her problems by herself. She always had. After all she didn't need anyone's help to escape from the Dark Ocean. "But more importantly, since we got off track from my original question, what do you think of the alternate echoes? The ones where everyone but us dies?'
Henry could only frown at the stubborn girl. "Fine," he said, glancing away, feeling a touch annoyed at how she again refused to rely on her friends. Stuffing his hands in his pockets, he sighed. "I don't know what to think. For all I know, it could be a glitch with Mnemosyne after your cousin hit it with the Hazard."
Rika grunted, feeling equally as frustrated. Talking to him about it was a waste of time it seemed, and now he was on her case too about getting her head checked out. He probably thought she was crazy too, between this and the Dark Ocean nonsense.
Still, she couldn't wonder herself, in the back of her mind, if she really was crazy. After all, why was she - the last one to regain their memories - the only one who remembers this? The only one having these dreams?
This wouldn't be the first time I saw a past I never thought happened though, she thought wryly to herself.
"I'm sorry, Rika," Henry said, sensing the frustration behind her grunt. "It's just… I don't have a whole lot to go on right now, and you have to admit you dropped quite an important piece of information on me right now." He glanced down at his phone, the message still not sent. Sighing, he closed out of it, not quite feeling ready to talk to Takato at the moment.
"Just…whatever you do, take care of yourself," he continued, pocketing the phone before looking at Renamon. "And you look after her as well."
"Always," Renamon replied, inclining her head. Henry chuckled.
"Sorry that she's so much trouble."
Renamon's azure eyes sparkled with amusement and she patted the fire-haired girl's head.
"Believe me, I wouldn't have it any other way."
###
Beelzemon rubbed the red, frayed scarf on his arm, shifting his weight from foot to foot next to Guardromon, MarineAngemon and Antylamon, waiting for Zhuqiaomon to appear. However, the stupid fire bird, as always, seemed to be running by his own damn clock, and hadn't appeared from his pit since they got here.
"How much longer do we gotta wait?" he hissed at Antylamon, who seemed completely unphased by her master's tardiness.
"He has a meeting with the other Sovereigns; he will meet with us when he is ready, I assure you," she replied serenely, and Beelzemon growled in frustration once again.
He was tired of waiting. They had been away from their partners for six whole years, and now Renamon, Guilmon, Terriermon and Calumon run off without them to the Real World? What the hell! Talk about inconsiderate! Rude! Did they think sending a message would make it better?
When I see them again, I'm going to give them a good smack, he seethed.
"I hope he arrives soon as well," Guardromon added as MarineAngemon blew another heart bubble at him. His iron armor was boiling hot now from the intense heat of the room, and he looked as though he were on the fritz. "My circuits can't keep up with this for much longer. Antylamon, do you think it would be too much to ask if the Sovereign could install air conditioners?"
"Puh!" MarineAngemon scowled at the Deva slightly, voicing his displeasure as well. Of all of them, these two had stuck together and formed something of a special bond during their many misadventures. Guardromon's desire to return to his life as a knight errant had been in need of a healer to patch him up, and as he was the partner of Kazu, Kenta's best friend, the fairy digimon remained with him through thick and thin.
"There is a reason I said we could wait outside, but someone-" Antylamon glanced at Beelzemon - "insisted. My master's domain was made for the comfort of him, no one else."
"And how much longer would we have to wait if we waited outside!" Beelzemon growled irritably, beginning his pacing again. He wasn't bothered by the heat - being thrown into lava would do that to you - and he didn't want to give the Sovereign a chance to lock them out.
"The Sovereign sees you at the time and place of his choosing, Demon Lord!" boomed a thunderous voice as a gout of fire suddenly exploded in the middle of the room. "Not yours!"
The torrent of fire suddenly burst outward, flashing great, crimson wings and revealing a massive, spear-like beak. Red orbs surrounded the fire-bird's body, gleaming brightly in a display of its power.
Zhuqiaomon, the lord of the iridescent flames and god of the south, had arrived.
At the sight of the Mega, Guardromon and MarineAngemon bowed respectfully, to which the firebird gave a deep, throaty laugh before returning his attention to Beelzemon.
"Even these…pets understand their place in the world's order," he said. "You should consider taking lessons from them in humility. Remember, you were but a stripling when my servant found you cowering in a dark hole, your pride reeking of humiliation. Know your place."
Beezlemon growled but kept his mouth shut, Antylamon bowing her head respectfully, shooting a quick glare at the Demon Lord to do the same, only getting a slight bob of the head. It was more than she expected, so it was progress. She just didn't want him to mess her chance up to meet up with Suzie.
"Thank you for taking the time to meet with us, my lord," she said, raising her head after a moment. "As I have informed you earlier, Renamon, Guilmon, Terriermon and the former catalyst have sent a message of their desire to return to the Human World, and with no communications from them, I assume they have. We too are worried about our partners and wish to join them."
"You would have me damage the barriers between the worlds so you can be with your masters?" Zhuqiaomon asked, the fires beginning to die down.
"Yes, your excellency!" Guardromon replied quickly, straightening out with a loud clank. "If it's not too much trouble, sir. I know you must be terribly busy with ruling the digital world after all…"
"I did not speak to you," Zhuqiaomon replied evenly, the fires surrounding his body increasing ever so slightly, causing Guardromon to blanch and bow low again.
"My apologies. I did not mean to offend you, oh Zhuqiaomon, the great and powerful."
Zhuqiaomon harrumphed and glanced back at Antylamon.
"Well?" he prompted. "Is what he said the truth? You would risk damage to our world to be with mere humans?"
"If pineapple head and the others are already on the other side, that bridge has already been burned, hasn't it?" Beelzemon shot back angrily. "Even I'm not dumb enough to come before you of all Digimon and ask to be reunited with Ai and Mako since I know a lost cause when I see one. And I'm pretty sure the rabbit having to deal with your tantrums all day knows enough to keep her mouth shut too. Especially when there is three other Sovereigns who are more likely to oblige than you."
"And yet, here you are," Zhuqiaomon gloated. "You are fortunate that I have need of agents to enter the human world. A darkness is growing there. A black tree." His eyes came to focus on Beelzemon all the more at this. "You have sensed it…haven't you? Our kind is called to it."
"Puh?" MarineAngemon asked Guardromon.
"He means Sovereigns and Demon Lords," the robot pointed out helpfully before turning to Beelzemon. "They have a special affinity for this sort of thing."
"Part of the reason we're here," Beelzemon growled, deciding not to add he was at least positive of Zhuqiaomon's powers and abilities when it came to being able to breach the barrier of the real world, seeing example time and again with regards to the Devas. However, the stupid bird didn't need more of his ego stroked.
"What are you talking about?" Antylamon asked, her brow furrowing and for a moment, anger flashing in her red eyes. She didn't like things being kept from her - especially in regards to the safety of her partner. "What didn't you tell us."
"It's not something ya can explain, rabbit. I just can tell something ain't right just like pineapple head knows when there is food around or pipsqueak knows where there is trouble," the Demon Lord grunted, his red eyes locked on the Sovereign's. "Something happened didn't it though?"
"Yes," Zhuqiaomon's eyes gleamed. "The humans have unleashed a weapon replicating the event that was experienced once before, during your battle with your…comrade when he digivolved to Megidramon. The barriers between words have been greatly weakened, particularly one to a dark realm that should not be opened. As much as it pains me to admit it, I need to know the situation there, and how badly weakened the barriers are…and whether such a world is free and spilling into others. If you agree to this, I shall send you back. Is this acceptable?"
"Indubitably!" Guardromon agreed quickly as MarineAngemon made a quick, puh noise in agreement, his expression fierce and full of determination.
"That's two of you," Zhuqiaomon said. "Who else?"
"You know I will," Antylamon bowed her head, both her and her master knowing damn well she had a second reason for wanting to do so.
"Someone has to babysit these idiots," Beelzemon grunted. "Plus I'm pretty sure I made my wants and desires pretty clear by now. I made a deal with you once. If it means protecting Ai and Mako, I'll be your stupid lapdog again."
"Very well," Zhuqiaomon said, rising into the air. "Do not forget your promise to me, Demon Lord. Do not forget your promise."
With that, a tear appeared in front of the digimon, and the Sovereign gestured to them.
"Go where you will. Your humans are waiting for you. Perhaps you will succeed, just as before."
Needing no more encouragement, Guardromon rose into the air and flew toward the portal, and disappeared within to the other side, MarineAngemon hot on his tail.
Beelzemon looked at Antylamon, nodded, and followed. He wasn't sure what was waiting for him on the other side, if Ai and Mako even remembered him, but they were partners. Whatever was happening over there, he would protect them.
No matter what.
Hang on Ai and Mako. I'm coming.
###
"And you're sure that this will work?" Riley asked Curley as she and Babel stood in her office.
"It's not guaranteed at this point until we start applying it in real life," the heavyset woman explained. "But the simulations show that it should be possible."
"The presence of the echoes showed us that it could be done – that they can become physical and interact with the world," chimed in Babel. "I figure we can do the same."
Riley leaned into her hands, frowning slightly, glancing over their submitted idea. It certainly was an interesting idea…if they could do pull it off.
"Start with something small first," she said. "I know you don't need to be told that, but…" She shrugged. "It pays to make sure you're covered by having it on record."
"Understood," Babel and Curley replied with a quick nod. Dismissing them, Riley leaned back in her chair and glanced over at Yamaki, who sat in the corner of her office – once his and then Himiko's – flicking his lighter open and closed.
"So… We're making progress…"
"Progress," Yamaki said simply, the lighter clinking open. "We thought we were back when this whole mess started. Somehow I feel like we're still being led around by the nose. This Dark Ocean business…"
Yamaki was interrupted as an alarm sounded throughout the building. Cursing, he stood up as Riley did likewise. The two exchanged a look and then hurried out of the office.
They made it to the main control room in record time, finding Tally's chair swiveling with that of her partner as they collected data.
"Report," Riley said, adjusting her tie, a part of her missing her old uniform.
"We're detecting an immense germination energy pattern all of a sudden," Tally reported, her voice strained as she fought to keep calm. "I don't know where it came from, but the network was suddenly hit by a massive flow of energy! Our firewalls couldn't keep it out! Yuggoth was deployed as well, but…"
A series of code suddenly crawled across their screens and Yamaki winced upon seeing it.
"It's…almost like we're being laughed at," Riley whispered, unknowingly voicing his own thoughts.
"I'm locked out!" Tally exclaimed. "I can't do anything!"
Her mind raced frantically as she remembered the last bit of data right before their systems were taken over.
Two Megas, a Champion and an Ultimate were coming to town.
We're screwed… was all she could think.
The screens suddenly returned to normal, displaying the bio-emerging signals. Giving as low a scream as she could muster, her fingers flew across her keyboard. "I can't stop…!" she began, right before the signals terminated abruptly with a large X sign over them, signaling that bio-emergence was not only imminent, it was happening now.
