Out of the Ashes…: Chapter 8
** Disclaimers: I don't own digimon. Never will. This fic was produced for entertainment purposes only, and will not be sold. Leave me alone, you vultures!
Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to left of them,
Cannon in front of them
Volley'd and thunder'd;
Storm'd at with shot and shell,
Boldly they rode and well,
Into the jaws of Death,
Into the mouth of Hell
Rode the six hundred.
- Charge of the Light Brigade, Alfred Lord Tennyson
"Web Wrecker!"
The explosive ball of fire slammed into the street, and kicked up a huge mushroom explosion. Columns of steam rose from the superheated ground as the driving rain washed over the crater. The original Diaboromon snarled, baring his fangs as the screams of dying rebels echoed through the dark street. The fires of war cast flickering shadows on everything, hellish red on inky black. The raging lightning flashed, illuminating all for a split second with acrid, burning white light.
"Cable Crusher!"
Long, dark cables lashed out from his sides like vicious striking serpents, plowing up concrete and shrapnel as they smashed along the ground with tremendous force. Two unlucky men were ripped apart instantly as the deadly cables tore through the narrow street. Thunder rumbled ominously in the sky.
The rest of the soldiers simply disappeared. None were foolish enough to try to face down the original Diaboromon, the infamous general of the dark, digital army. Fading away into the shadows like smoke, the remnants of the platoon split up to head towards their fallback position. They had been given orders to retreat at once if confronted with Diaboromon, who was infinitely more powerful than his copies.
The dark demon God threw his head back and howled at the night sky. With feral screams of rage, he hurled web wreckers into surrounding buildings, not caring what he hit. A tremendous flash lit up the night sky as yet another structure detonated nearby. These humans were like ants! They were everywhere. Attack one group, and they simply disbanded, fell back, and struck elsewhere. Their actions were recklessly courageous, yet the damage they were causing was unbelievable. It was impossible to stop them all.
Pushing into the driving rain, he flew off into the darkness, a shadow among shadows. A tremendous downdraft of wind blasted the remains of the street as he took off. His eyes burned a blazing yellow as he scanned his city, enraged by what he saw.
Tokyo was glowing with spreading fire. The sheets of flame licked hungrily at his city, the angry red embers of war drifted on the air. The stinging rain did nothing to diminish it. Platoons of men relentlessly attacked, and systematically destroyed target after target. They feared no death, and although the attack was costing them heavily, it was costing Diaboromon much more. Bakemon and even Diaboromon fell to the onslaught.
The spider tapped into his neural network, checking with his base. Even though he was out in the field fighting, the nature of his network was such that he could still coordinate troop movements, and control his army.
The net was in a state of chaos. Hazing, static and interference cluttered up the signals as communications relays and booster stations were destroyed. Damage reports continued to flood in from all over the city.
Comm. link 5 destroyed. Sectors 3 through 7 now incommunicado.
Squadron 17 confirmed defeated. Squadrons 18 and 19 moving to compensate.
Processor plant under attack. Estimated three platoons. Requesting reinforcements.
Power lines 45 through 76 cut. Sectors 25 through 34 now cut off.
Diaboromon saw a supply depot under attack, the weapons fire flashing in the dark night. But even as he swooped down, the building exploded, and the platoon disappeared once again. Desperately, the spider tried to marshal his forces more effectively. It wasn't a problem with numbers. His army outnumbered the enemy at least four to one. But the rebels were totally unpredictable in what they would attack next. Sometimes, platoons attacked in tandem, combining their forces to smash targets. Other times, they operated alone, seeking out fringe comm. links. Decoy forces and diversions nipped at his army, distracting his attention from the main threat. By the time the reinforcements arrived, the target would already be destroyed, and the platoon disappeared like smoke.
They struck with unerring accuracy and precision. There were no formations, but the coordination was unbelievable. They struck as if of one mind. And yet, no radio signals had been intercepted. They were working on blind coordination…
Then, a report caught his attention.
The four digimon has started an offensive sweep. Five kilometers between each digimon. Bearing: South 54 degrees 6 minutes West. Velocity: approx. 56 km/h, variable.
Diaboromon didn't have to think. Immediately, he changed direction, heading to ward off the charge, even as he commanded the few troops he could spare to join him at the eastern border of central Tokyo. His fangs gleamed dully in the lightning as he flew through the night, his dark body illuminated by the glowing embers of the city.
This is one prey that is not going to get away...
**********
"We can't afford to be discovered yet. We're not close enough. Are you sure this will work?"
"Yes. If you do it fast enough, we won't be discovered. They won't get a chance to sound the alarm."
"Like…how fast?"
"Ten to fifteen seconds."
Dead silence.
"You're kidding. That's a bakemon a second."
Willis's response was firm, unyielding. "You'll have ten to fifteen seconds. Any longer, and they'll raise the alarm over the net, and this whole place will come crashing down around our ears."
Several seconds passed. All eyes in the dark, cramped confines of the vent duct were fixed on the brown-haired commander, who bit his lower lip as he considered his options.
This was the closest they could get to the command core by hidden means. From here on, they would have to proceed down open corridors. The problem was there was a patrol of fifteen Bakemon floating back and forth down the hallway, working the secondary terminals. They had identified many points where they could continue the final leg of their journey, but all of them were guarded, or occupied in some way. This was the best available route.
But it was still guarded.
Then, Tai slowly drew his kodachi. Kari and Willis quickly drew their own blades as Matt pulled out his coshes. TK merely adjusted his grip on his staff. The brown-haired leader patted Agumon, who was by his side. "You stay here buddy. You can't attack, so leave this to us." The digimon didn't look happy but subsided.
"Keep your sidearms strapped down, and safeties locked on. Tenkei weapons only. At this close range, they'd work better…"
Fifteen bakemon worked frantically within the small control room, trying to coordinate the disorganized digimon troop movements, and control the raging rebellion that had flared up. Ghostly fingers extended from their frames, and danced on the keypads. The digimon chattered to one another in fevered, binary language. Coupled with their neural link, their coordination was almost total, but it was not enough. The only sounds in the room was the quiet hum of the ventilation system, the frantic plastic clacking of computer keys, and the sporadic snatches of verbal reports from the bakemon.
That was when they struck.
The destined dropped like five ghosts from the ventilation grid in the ceiling, their auras already blazing. Landing lithely on the ground, they proceeded to attack. Two Bakemon never knew what hit them. One was cleaved cleanly in half by Tai's burning kodachi, and the other was smashed face-first into a console by Matt's savage three-hit combo.
Neither had time to scream. Even before the digimon had begun dissolving into black data, both warriors were already off like a whirlwind, seeking their next target. Splitting up, they raked the room like a net of flashing steel. Bakemon fell before them like corn to a reaper.
Willis dashed through the room, a violent cyan flame wreathing his slim form. The crest of fate glowed brightly on his chest. Targeting the bakemon hooked into the consoles, he swept the left side of the chamber like a blazing scythe, trying to cut off their connection before they could warn the others.
Patamon, Gatomon, Terriermon, Agumon and Gabumon stayed in the vent, watching with morbid fascination as their masters fought. The five destined were like a pack of wolves loose in a pen of sheep.
The massacre was horrible.
Two seconds…
Kari was as a hot summer flame, her blade as dancing fire in her grip. As the bakemon collected their wits, several of them tried striking back at their assailants.
The girl didn't even slow down in her charge. As her slim frame blazed a rose-coloured flame, twisting with the grace of a dancer, all of the strikes somehow whistled through empty air. Before the ghosts could blink, she was upon them, striking left, right and center. One Bakemon fell to a savage thrust, another scythed in half with a backhand slash. A distinct black haze of data filled the air.
Seven seconds…
The remaining digimon banded together desperately, and tried focusing on one warrior. "Ghostly fist!" two of them chorused in unison, trying to overwhelm the boy.
TK whipped his staff back into defense and spun it rapidly, blocking the strikes deftly with both hands. The deflected attacks went smashing into surrounding terminals. Sparks flew and electronics exploded into an acrid spray of plastic shrapnel and flaming silicon chips. With a mighty heave, the boy pushed the extended fists from his staff, and with a furious slash, severed both limbs.
The digimons' keening scream was terrible. The destined's face was devoid of any emotion as he crouched like a tiger. He was a warrior whether he liked it or not, an angel wreaking terrible vengeance on the unjust. Any feelings of pity or compassion were swiftly crushed.
Mercy or compassion was unnecessary in a soldier.
Such dangerous emotions could get you killed.
In a tremendous flash of golden light, the boy flickered and flashed into a blur as he exploded into an inhumanly fast charge. The bakemons' screams were cut off abruptly as they split into four parts of rapidly dissolving data, slashed twice by the burning staff flashing in TK's hand. Their black blood sprayed liberally over the boy.
Twelve seconds…
The last ghost ignored the conflict. He was dead, and he knew it. The only thing that remained to do was to warn the others, raise the alarm, before he died. Desperately, the bakemon tried to send out an alert over the net, at the same time plying the controls that would sound the intruder alert. Just another second…
With a savage stroke, Matt smashed the digimon in the back of the head with both coshes. The ghost was plunged face-first into the terminal, shattering the steel-plated console like glass. The bakemon spasmed, and slumped against the already-burning keyboard, fracturing into bits of black data, slowly dissipating into the air.
Thirteen seconds.
Everyone crouched and tensed. Did they do it? Every sense was strained to the limit as utter silence descended like a veil upon the computer control room. Acrid smoke from the burning consoles curled silently in the air.
Abruptly, lights began flashing on the few surviving consoles. Loud klaxon sirens began sounding out all over the complex as the overhead lights shifted red.
They'd been discovered.
"SH*T!!!"
Tai's vicious scream rent the air as he slammed his weapon point-first into a terminal, driving the blade up to the hilt in the burning monitor. The digimon hiding in the ceiling vent abruptly flipped themselves down into the room to join their masters, ready to fight. There was no longer any point in not using digimon attacks. Diaboromon already knew they were here. Willis unholstered his gun and set it to full automatic with a practiced flick of his thumb. Forget subtlety. From now on, they had to rely on brute force.
TK didn't waste his breath venting his frustration. Drawing back, the blond boy uncoiled his body like a striking serpent. Legs, waist and shoulders all twisted into the attack. His savage kick struck the door dead center, focusing all of his considerable power into a point the size of a pin. The steel-plated portal was blasted completely off its hinges, crashing into the corridor outside. In a flash, all five destined and their digimon were out and running towards their target, the clanging intruder alert still sounding in their ears. They had to get closer before the patrols organised themselves enough to find and stop them.
As he ran, Tai swiftly unhooked his digivice from his belt. With his thumb, he pressed a button on the device. Instantly, the screen flashed, and a beep sounded as a confirmation message appeared on his screen. Grim-faced, the leader clipped the device back onto his belt, and ran.
And ran.
**********
Izzy surveyed the battlefield with satisfaction. The wind whipped his wet auburn hair around violently as he sat on MegaKabuterimon's back. The giant bug digimon blazed a fiery path across the night sky, slicing through the torrents of rain and lightning. The crimson flames from below illuminated the grim smile on his dirt-streaked face. From here, the city looked aglow, awash with blood…
Things were going well. The line had yet to meet up with any serious resistance, and Diaboromon's army had been thrown into a state of disarray by the sudden attack.
Then, the boy jerked as he heard an insistent beeping noise. Quickly, he took out his digivice, impatiently wiping away the rainwater and mud coating the screen, and scrutinized it. The grin faded from his face as a feeling of dread began settling in his stomach.
"God dammit…"
His digivice was flashing like crazy, its in-built alert systems going crazy, reacting to an outside signal that it had received. According to the signature of the carrier wave, Tai had activated his digivice, sending out a one-second coded alert signal to all other devices in range. The signal pulse had faded long ago, but his device was still reacting to it.
His communicator crackled with static, the shorter-range radio signaling for attention as well. Someone was trying to contact him. There was no longer any point in maintaining radio silence anymore. It wasn't like Diaboromon didn't know they were here. Sora's worried voice cut through the interference from the storm clearly.
"Izzy?!" She had to scream to be heard above the storm and explosions. "You getting this as well? My digivice is going crazy! Why would Tai activate his digivice?"
Joe's voice cut in the line. "By now they should be deep into the bowels of DB's base. A signal like that would stick out like a beacon on Diaboromon's radar screens! What the hell is he thinking?"
"He's got to have a reason. Tai's smarter than that!" Mimi's voice was distinctive even over the static.
Izzy's mind was whirling, following the logic through. Tai wouldn't have used his digivice unless the situation absolutely warranted it. Therefore, the situation must be desperate. Most likely, they had already been discovered, and were using the longer-ranged digivices to call for help. The one-second duration of the signal pulse would've given away their position for sure, but not enough to trace the group over time. They must be running away from the enemy. In an instant, the auburn-haired boy made a decision.
His thumb stabbed down on the transmit button, forcing an override as he yelled into the speaker.
"He's in trouble. He wouldn't have used his digivice unless he absolutely had to. Forget the line! Head for DB's base as fast as you can! Do not engage, it only slows you down. I'll decide what to do when we get there. For now, just get there!!"
A series of acknowledgements sounded out over the communicators as everyone signed off. Grimly, Izzy switched off his own communicator as well, and hollered into the wind. "MegaKabuterimon! That goes for you too…"
"I heard! I'm going, I'm going!"
The big beetle digimon abruptly banked in mid-air, breaking off his invasion into the core of the city. Switching vectors, he climbed higher into the sky to make for faster speed, and turned on the afterburners. His thrusters burned a violent orange hue as the digimon streaked across the sky like a fiery rocket. His friends needed his help. The auburn-haired boy looked around, scanning the dark sky for the others.
Garudamon was also turning, the massive digimon of flames banking gracefully into the wind. He could barely make out Lilymon, small as she was, but she too was breaking off the charge. Zudomon Izzy had no trouble distinguishing, from the fiery trail of destruction he left on the ground. In tandem, the four digimon broke formation, and headed with all speed for Diaboromon's complex.
Tai, be careful…
**********
A dark shape sliced through the bloody night like a knife, bent on its mission. Deadly fangs gleamed in the flashes of raging lightning as Diaboromon hurtled through the night, heading for the digimon offensive line. He could already see them. They were still a long way off, but the damage they were causing, and the fires they spread were unmistakable. The four digimon had literally carved a fiery track through the suburbs of Tokyo, and the ranks of his army. You couldn't help but notice.
Then the spider scowled. What's this…
All four ultimates had abruptly broken off their attack. Their formation dissolved, and one by one, they streaked off into the night, all seemingly headed for one destination. They totally ignored his army, and refused to engage.
Almost as if…
A moment later, he got his answer as a message flashed through the net.
Rebel platoon discovered within base. Five members. Report unconfirmed. Bakemon work crew Beta 5 destroyed. Bearing unknown. Attempting to re-establish contact.
What!!!!
A rebel platoon had somehow managed to sneak into his base. Diaboromon cursed viciously. How the hell had they managed to slip past his security? He had suspected something like this was going to happen, and had organised his patrols accordingly. Despite his army being abroad, and security measures being down, digimon patrols had been tightened. How in the world could they have managed to get in?
Then, a terrible, gut-wrenching feeling gripped the spider. A feeling the dark fiend had only experienced once, five years ago, when he had first fought the WarGreymon and MetalGarurumon on the Internet. And a feeling that had refused to leave him ever since.
Fear. That soul-wrenching, dull panic that tears at one's rational mind.
There were only nine in the world that could have done this. The only ones that possessed the cold, killer's instinct and the savage fighting spirit necessary. They destroyed and calculated with the merciless minds of killers, and possessed more power than any other group on earth, in the rebel forces they commanded, in the awesome digimon they controlled…and in themselves.
Four of them he could see right now, streaking towards sector 001, his base. And the other five…
The other five were in his base!!!
Diaboromon flipped over in mid-air, landed on a building, and pushed off hard. Behind him, the building collapsed into rubble from the impact. Streaking through the bloodstained sky, the spider headed for his own base, even as he frantically issued instructions electronically. Every available soldier left in his base was immediately up on his feet, and looking for the five elusive destined. The spider's panic pushed him on. The damage that the destined could cause from his base was not lost on him.
If one could shout over the Internet, Diaboromon would be screaming.
Stop them!!!
**********
The digimon in the command room were in a state of "organized chaos". Army patrols of bakemon and datamon and compumon tech crews scurried every which way, desperately trying to contain the raging rebellion outside. Patrols and squads of soldiers flowed in and out of the large entrances and exits, trying futilely to find the five elusive destined loose within the base.
The master control core was huge. One could barely see the other end of the steel and cobalt gray chamber. The ceiling arched high above their heads. It was big enough to contain at least a hundred Diaboromon. Five steel-plated bay doors studded the sides of the room to allow access for the larger Diaboromon. Around the center of the room, levels of huge, complex terminals had been arranged, mainframes and supercomputers working in tandem, and tended to by work crews of digimon.
And in the center of the room, a spire of sparkling crystal rose to the ceiling. Complex bundles of cables led to and from the great computer core. Mysterious flashes of multicoloured light flashed within the tower, its inner workings known only to Diaboromon himself. A soft hum permeated the room as the column worked. Terminals and monitors were hooked into the base of the tower. It looked almost organic in its shimmering, flowing shape, binded by cables and cobalt grey braces. It was utterly sterile, frightening in its efficiency.
This was the pinnacle of all that Diaboromon stood for. Cold, inhuman logic. It was perfect, a work of genius, and yet in its perfection, it was dead. It was cold.
Suddenly, an alert flashed through the network. Digimon jerked as the code one alert blazed across their collective conscience.
Incoming! Rebel platoon with digimon attacking the core. Seal the core! Seal the core!
Frantically, several squads of bakemon flew to the doors, trying to stop the invasion. Conversely, the five steel bay doors leading outside began grinding open, allowing access for the Diaboromon outside.
Like that would help.
With a tremendous crash, the southern wall exploded. A horrendous scream of tortured steel rent the air as the two-feet-thick armour peeled apart like tin foil. Five verdant flashes of light streaked from the smoking wound in the wall as five digimon streaked from it. Immediately, WarGreymon and MetalGarurumon headed for the bay doors, intent on engaging the incoming Diaboromon before they got in. The angels both took to the air, weapons blazing as they tried to take the heat off their masters. Galgomon planted his feet, and started strafing the chamber with his gattling cannons. Lines of fire and explosions traced their way around the chamber as the digimon started their attack.
Flash'd all their sabres bare,
Flash'd as they turn'd in air
Sabring the gunners there,
Behind the digimon, Tai shouted out final orders as he launched himself into action. "Don't stop! Keep moving, we have to press the attack!" The destined themselves threw themselves off the twisted platform, flipping off the two-story jump without hesitation. Keeping each other within sight, they split up, landing on different computer terminals. They moved with the speed and grace of the winter wind, and fought with the savagery and efficiency of animals. Leaping again and again, they dashed from terminal to terminal, hacking their way towards the central core, the ferocity of their charge smashing a hole through the bakemon ranks.
Utter chaos ensued. Confused, the majority of the bakemon patrols and work-crews targeted the much more obvious angel digimon, and Galgomon. And were promptly blown away like dead leaves in a gale. The ghosts were simply no match for the ultimates. The bay doors finally grinded open, and a squadron of Diaboromon rushed in, only to be confronted with two mega digimon.
The destined took advantage of the confusion, threading their way through the ranks of digimon. Their weapons blazing, a storm of flying lead slugs and flashing steel surrounded the five warriors as they fought alternatively with their guns, and with their blades. From above, it was as if the destined were carving five distinct tracks of fiery destruction, each closing in on the crystal tower with unwavering intent.
Charging an army, while
All the world wonder'd;
Plunged in the battery smoke
Willis slashed at a bakemon as he passed, and flipped over to the next terminal. With a mighty leap, the lithe boy propelled himself through the air, and landed firmly on both feet next to the crystal tower. His blade flashed cyan with the colour of his aura as he viciously hacked away at the digimon clustered there. A moment later, TK came vaulting in on his staff. Behind him, Kari ran a bakemon through, and slashed savagely at the snarling ghosts, but she was beleaguered from all sides, and could advance no more. Likewise, Tai and Matt fought fiercely to join their comrades.
TK slipped into position with his back to Willis, his staff raised as his golden aura flared bright. Blood streamed from a gash on his head, staining his blond hair crimson as the boy panted for breath. His blood and data-streaked face was grim as he faced the army of bakemon soldiers, determined to protect his friend.
"The virus! Get it installed! Hurry!"
Willis hesitated, his aura flickering uncertainly. He would need at least five minutes at a terminal, five minutes in which he would essentially be useless as a fighter. Battles had been won and lost in a quarter of that time. TK would be facing almost overwhelming odds on his own. "But…you can't do this by yourself! You'll be swamped- "
"I can and I will. Now do it!!"
"TK-"
"Do it!" For a moment, Willis was taken aback by the fierce emotion in the blond boy's voice. "Willis, our men are dying outside! Every second we waste talking, another soldier is killed! I'll keep them off your back. Just friggin' do it!"
Willis bit his lower lip until he could taste blood in his mouth. TK knew exactly what he was doing.
This was what war came down to in all its horrible, bloody glory. Sacrificing your friends, your family, even your very life, just so others may live…
He nodded reluctantly. "Fine." His aura died down and he sheathed his kodachi with a metallic clink. Hurriedly slipping the laptop off his back, he ran to the main terminal. "Watch yourself!" he shouted over his shoulder.
TK, with his back still turned, gave him a thumbs up sign. Then his aura flared to blinding proportions. Golden swirls of energy spiraled in a shimmering vortex around the boy as he unleashed every last erg of power he had been carefully conserving. With a terrible cry, the destined warrior threw caution to the winds, and leapt headlong into the ranks of snarling bakemon, determined to buy his friend every precious second he needed.
Even if it cost him his life.
Right thro' the line they broke;
Cossack and Russian
Reel'd from sabre stroke
Shatter'd and sunder'd
Fiercely, Willis turned from the terrible scene unfolding before him. His eyes were tearing, and he could taste his salty tears as they traced down his cheeks. He wiped angrily at them. It's just the smoke, he thought fiercely. Just the smoke…
With a tremendous mental effort, Willis shut out the awful sounds of carnage his comrade was inflicting on the digimon. His hands trembling, he plugged in the cable from his laptop onto the terminal, and started the program. A window popped up, and Willis typed a few final instructions. Holding his breath, he pressed the upload button.
Uploading virus. A coloured bar started slowly filling up across the screen. A time estimate flashed in the lower right-hand corner.
00:05:00
Come on…come on…
Tai gasped in pain as a bakemon landed a glancing blow on his left shoulder. He could hear the fabric of his uniform ripping as his entire arm went numb. Gritting his teeth against the wrenching pain, he twisted his body sideways to help absorb the strike, at the same time bringing his kodachi up.
There was no artistry in killing with the point. The edge was his preferred way of attack, but when he saw an opportunity, he was not dumb enough to waste it. The commander pivoted on his feet, allowing the ghost to stumble past him, and right into the deadly, winter-keen tip of the kodachi. The bakemon didn't even have time to scream. Wrenching his blade out of the dying digimon, Tai lashed out with his foot for good measure. The dissolving hunk of data went flying. "I loved that shirt!" he spat after it.
Leveling his gun at yet another group of digimon, he pressed the trigger.
Click.
"Sh*t!" Tai swore viciously as he savagely hurled the now useless piece of metal at a nearby bakemon. His limbs trembled with exhaustion. It had finally happened. They were out of ammo. Looking around wildly, he hollered at the top of his lungs.
"Willis! How much longer?!"
Miraculously, through the sounds of digimon fire and clashing steel, Willis heard. "Two minutes, seven seconds…mark!" The coloured bar was almost halfway across the screen by now.
Tai gritted his teeth. Two minutes?! Looking around, he tried to see how the others were going in the roiling confusion that was the command center. His blood-streaked face went grim.
Then they rode back, but not
Not the six hundred.
The four destined formed a loose defensive perimeter around Willis as he worked. The angels continued to wreak havoc in the room, and distracted the bulk of Diaboromon's troops. WarGreymon and MetalGarurumon were holding back the Diaboromon. In the narrow space of the bay doors, they could fend off all comers indefinitely. But the destined themselves were still being targeted. And they were beginning to tire...
Yet, they fought bravely and fiercely, determined to buy their friend the precious time he needed. It was all about the effort now. They would fight the fire until the flames either died, or until it consumed them…
Willis's knuckles were bone white as he gripped the edge of the terminal. Cyan flames raced up and down his arms in agitation as his fingers dug into the metal, splintering the steel. His eyes were glued to the time readout.
00:00:35
Kari was beleaguered, attacked from all sides. Slashing wildly with her blade, she cut three of them in half. Turning, her aura flared with rage as she flipped the blade around and savagely ran a ghost through. But even as she killed one, five more took its place.
"Ghostly Fist!"
The girl desperately tried to dodge. The blows she didn't manage to twist out of, she parried deftly with her blade. All except one.
A thrice-damned strike clipped her on the knee. Kari gasped in pain as her leg was wrenched out from under her, and she collapsed like a rag doll onto her knees. The ghosts surged forward, eager to finish off the weakened destined.
Angewomon saw her mistress go down. "Kari!" she screamed. Savagely throwing off several bakemon, and blasting a datamon to bits, the angel tried to fly to her master's side, only to find her way blocked by several Diaboromon that had managed to get past the megas. Twisting furiously in the chamber, she clashed viciously with the larger spiders, helpless to aid her mistress.
"Kari!"
Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to left of them,
Cannon behind them,
Volley'd and thunder'd
00:00:23
Bakemon attacks streaked in as thick as hail. Even lame, Kari fought like a tiger, and anything that came too close was sliced apart. Two digimon joined their deleted comrades on the floor as they got careless. Eventually however, the numbers began to tell. Several ghosts teamed up and unleashed their attack together. "Ghostly Fist!"
Desperately, Kari clasped both hands together, and held them in front of her. A shimmering, crimson-coloured shield flashed in front of her hands, her last attempt to defend herself. The joint attack slammed into the shield with a shower of white-hot sparks.
Perhaps it was the pain from her leg that dulled her concentration. Perhaps it was exhaustion from continuous use of her powers. Or perhaps the joint attack was simply too much for her. Whatever the reason, the shield shattered into millions of flaming shards, fragments of psionic energy, quickly fading into the air. And the attacks kept on going…
Several levels away, TK watched in horror as three punches slammed into the girl's slim form with a sickening crunch, her scream of pain echoing across the raging battlefield. One struck her savagely across the face, and the other two hit her on the upper body. The combined force of the blows hurled her into the air like a rag doll, until she slammed into a terminal. The force of the collision smashed the terminal inwards, its steel consoles exploding into flames. Numbly, Kari slipped onto her knees, then collapsed on her front. The kodachi clattered onto the ground, its rose glow fading. Her blood stained the ground a crimson red as her aura flickered once, and died down.
Storm'd at with shot and shell,
While horse and hero fell,
They that had fought so well
Came thro' the jaws of Death
Back from the mouth of Hell
00:00:07
"Kari!" The word ripped from the blond boy's throat. Suddenly, he turned into a demon, possessed by a terrible bloodwrath. His staff turned into a whirling hurricane of destruction as he desperately tried to fight his way to Kari's side, his power and speed tempered with the strength of insanity. He carved a bloody swathe through the ranks of digimon. Nothing, nothing mattered except to get to Kari's side.
But even as he charged, he instinctively knew he'd never get there in time…
Through a bloody haze, Kari painfully lifted her head. Before her stood the triumphant army of bakemon, winding up for their final attack. She closed her eyes in despair as her life flashed before her eyes, moments and people she cherished, and loved. An image of a certain golden-haired boy flashed through her mind as she willed her last thought to him. "I'm sorry…" she whispered.
Then all was dark…
All that was left of them,
Left of six hundred…
00:00:00. Virus uploaded.
Willis's voice, tinged with such a terrible hatred it bordered on insanity, rang out strong and clear across the roiling battlefield.
"Diaboromon you mother-f*cker! EAT THIS!"
A terrible keening scream rose in the chamber as hundreds of digimon wailed in unison. Bakemon and Diaboromon clawed at their hearts as their programming, the very core of their being, was invaded, infested, corrupted, and torn asunder by the raging virus.
The deadly instrument of genocide spread like a fire through the invisible network links, stretching to all corners of the globe. If the electronic disease was visible, one would have likened it to a raging wildfire spreading across a dry grass plain, devouring everything in its path. Across the world, bakemon and Diaboromon alike screamed, a chorus from hell. Flakes peeled off their bodies as their inner beings were eaten away and devoured viciously. Then black data began spiraling away in huge drafts, as their frames unraveled like string, no longer with a soul to contain.
Entire legions and armies died in one fell swoop as the virus did its work without remorse. Like a great, cleansing fire, the world was purged of all that did not belong. Every last digimon in the chamber collapsed and dissolved into data along with the rest of Diaboromon's army. Tai closed his eyes as he clenched his teeth against their dying wails. His conscience tugged remorselessly at his heart. It was genocide. It was murder of millions of living, breathing digimon. It was slaughter on an unprecedented scale.
But war is weird. It justifies a lot of things…
MagnaAngemon and Angewomon slowly descended to the ground as both megas lowered their claws. Galgomon dropped his smoking gattling cannons. A deathly stillness filled the room as the dying screams of Bakemon faded away. The battle was over.
Matt's coshes clattered on the ground as the blond commander slumped onto his knees, panting for breath. Crimson blood dripped from a gash on his cheek. Dazedly, Willis slowly surveyed the chamber. Patches of burnt data littered the ground, and the surviving consoles. Smashed terminals and live electrical wires sparked amongst the ruined, burning mess as a translucent fog of acrid smoke filled the air. The crystal tower's blue glow began fading as the virus ripped the network asunder. All that could be heard was the crackling of the burning fires.
The stillness was stifling.
When can their glory fade?
O the wild charge they made!
All the world wonder'd
Honour the charge they made!
Honour the Light Brigade,
Noble six hundred!
All this was lost on TK. So what if Diaboromon's army had been deleted? So what if they had won? None of it would matter anyway if Kari died. The blond boy had no time to celebrate. Nimbly hopping down from his level, he dashed to her side. His breath sounded raggedly in his throat as he ran.
"Kari! Kari, are you alright? Speak to me!" Skidding to a halt beside her, he fell to his knees. Desperately, he took her ice-cold hands in his own, blood-stained palms, as if in so doing he could give her his strength, his life. The girl looked pale, and the boy bit his lip as he imagined what she must be going through right now. Bitter, bitter tears streamed down his cheeks as he squeezed her hands tightly.
They had made a promise, he was supposed to look out for her, and he had failed her.
"Kari…don't leave me…. You promised…" he whispered plaintively. Taking her finger, he hooked it with his own, a symbol of the unbreakable promise they had made to each other.
"You promised me you wouldn't leave…"
A moment of silence passed. Then, Kari's eyes fluttered as she felt salty tears splatter on her cheeks. She coughed weakly as she groaned. Opening her eyes, she gazed into TK's sapphire blue ones, her crimson pupils filled with pain, but also with peace. She smiled weakly.
"Did we do it?"
A huge weight lifted off the boy's shoulders. A heartfelt grin of relief, of gratitude surfaced on TK's tear-stained features. His shoulders heaved with emotion as he tried wiping his eyes with his sleeve, the crystal drops soaking into the dark-blue fabric, but it didn't work. More tears simply welled up in their place.
"Yes, we did it," he whispered softly.
Kari grinned, her face illuminated with a small, tired smile. "Don't leave me…"
TK leaned in closer, and gently brushed her chestnut brown hair back. He planted a tender kiss on her forehead. "Just…rest. I swear I'll be right here at your side when you wake up. I swear I'll be right here at your side for the rest of my life."
"Thank you…" Kari's eyes closed as she slipped back into unconsciousness, secure in the knowledge that he was there to protect her. TK hugged her tightly for a moment, sparkling tears streaming down his bloodstained cheeks, thanking God and all nine of his lucky stars that she hadn't been killed. He made no attempt to hide his raw emotions. His light would recover. She was strong. She would be all right.
She would be all right.
Taking a deep breath, he wiped away his tears. Then, he looked around for the others. "Matt? Tai? Kari needs some help over-"
Then he looked around puzzled. None of the digimon had devolved. Tai, Matt and Willis were all standing tensely, as if waiting for something, dreading something. MagnaAngemon suddenly unsheathed his sword, the glowing violet wrist-blade snapping out into place.
"What's the matter guys? We won. It's over, right?"
"Right?"
A thunderous explosion echoed throughout the entire core, frighteningly loud in the still silence. Almost half the ceiling collapsed into twisting girders and metal shrapnel with a ear-splitting scream of twisting steel. Thick smoke billowed from the gaping wound in the roof as secondary explosions raced throughout the chamber, computer terminals blowing up from the shock of the attack. Even the huge computer core trembled, spidery cracks spreading through the crystal.
From that smoke, a dark, spindly shape emerged.
Tai's shoulders slumped in disbelief. Even Matt looked shaken to the core. With a lump of dread stuck in his throat, he looked up into the billowing fog, straining his eyes to see more.
The fires gleamed a dull orange off plated, black armour and horns. Alarmingly white, sharp fangs glistened, and yellow, piercing eyes glared balefully at the group. Spindly spider's limbs braced themselves against the roof of the command center. A frightening snarl of incredible rage appeared on the original Diaboromon's face as he scanned the scene before him.
The last of his kind. The viral master of the dark digital army himself.
Slowly, Tai took a deep breath. His aura ignited once again, a burning, orange fire. Calling on their last reserves of strength and stamina from deep within themselves, the masters and their digimon followed as they gathered their strength for one final fight…
** Author's notes: Please take a look at the picture I posted on my profile. Remember? I said I drew a picture of TK in "Zion-wear"? Well, it's finally finished! Please, please tell me what you think! Either by email or by review. I'm really interested in knowing what my readers think of it. Also, my profile has been updated. It'll read "this is TK" by tomorrow, as opposed to "this is Nausicaa".
I swear, this is the absolute last cliffhanger you'll get (since this is the second last chapter anyway ^_^) Yes, you heard right. Chapter nine will be the absolute last installment to this saga. Oh, and the poem was Alfred Lord Tennyson's (1809-1883) Charge of the Light Brigade. Hope you liked it. It was something new for me, a poem-fic as opposed to a song-fic! I got the full version of the poem from (surprise!!) TS! She's great! She knows everything, digimon, Star Trek, even poetry! As always, please review!