Story Five: Alex's Decision
Alex looked around as he and Kunemon sat in their tree. Though the other Digi-destined had homes back in America, Alex preferred to stay in the Digital World, and worked a night shift of sorts.
"Hey, Kunemon, you awake?" Alex asked.
"Am now." The little worm replied, rubbing its eye with its tail. "What is it?"
"I need to know…do you have any idea why the crest doesn't make me feel evil anymore?" He shifted the yin-yang a bit. "I mean, now you can Digi-volve normally, and nothing happens to me."
"Well, maybe you beat it." Kunemon replied. "Can I go back to sleep now?"
Alex shrugged. "Sure." He looked at the crest again, before drifting
off.
The Collector watched with great interest. "I think that I'll be able
to manipulate him. But, unlike that fool Neomon, I'll make him kill the
Digi-destined straight out. Every last Digi-destined will die."
The next day…
"All right, let's get going." Michael headed through the Digi-port, followed by Jennifer. Adam and Jennifer had yet to arrive. Michael noticed a change. "That's weird. Alex is usually here by now."
"Sorry, I overslept." Alex walked over. Kunemon was still sleeping on his shoulder. "Where's Adam and Angela?"
"Not here yet." Michael replied simply. "Just give 'em time."
Alex nodded, as he and Kunemon pulled out a small collection of metal objects and began toying with them.
"What are you doing?" Angela asked.
"I'm trying to remake my sword." Alex explained. "MagnaNeomon destroyed my old one, so I figured I'd make another the same way I made the old one."
"And how was this?" Michael asked.
"With metal and a stone slab." Alex replied. "Kunemon, use your Electro Thread to cut a rock into a circle."
The little worm nodded. "You got it."
Several minutes later…
Sparks flew as Alex sharpened the sword with the stone wheel. A few moments later, he lifted the sword into the air, displaying it in all its glory.
"I'm finished!" he announced, when he noticed that all his fellow Digi-destined, including Adam and Angela, had fallen asleep. "$#^$%!"
As he muttered to himself, he noticed a change in the air around him. That and he heard loud clumps from all around, and hot breath began drifting onto his neck. Reacting quickly, Alex turned, sword in hand, to see five Tyrannomon standing before him.
"What do you want?" Alex demanded.
"You." One Tyrannomon answered. "Master wants you."
"You want me?" Alex asked. He spun the blade around. "Come and get me."
Kunemon put on a bandanna. "Just bring it!"
The Tyrannomon roared, and charged them. However, Kunemon tied one Tyrannomon to the ground, and fried another with Electro Thread, fighting two while Alex slashed away at the other three.
"Enough." Came a new voice. The Tyrannomon disbanded, leaving Alex and Kunemon alone before this new force, which revealed itself. "I am MetalTyrannomon, the final general."
"General? General for who?" Alex asked.
"You'll meet him soon enough." MetalTyrannomon promised. "Now, either you surrender yourself immediately…or we kill your sleeping companions."
Alex's gaze shifted, and he saw a group of Tyrannomon around the Digi-destined, waiting to strike.
"No…" he whispered.
"What's it going to be?" MetalTyrannomon asked, grinning.
Alex sighed, and placed his sword in MetalTyrannomon's hand. "Let's go."
"Excellent." MetalTyrannomon smiled. He lifted Kunemon with the other
hand, as the Tyrannomon all took Alex by his arms, and they marched off
to the lair of their leader.
Later, Michael's eyes drifted open, and he saw that Alex and Kunemon
were gone. He lifted Betamon onto his shoulder, and looked around the small
forest they were in. "Where could he have gone to?" Michael asked. "I'd
better wake the others. He could be in trouble."
Alex grunted in pain as MetalTyrannomon struck his face again. It was followed by another hard shot, perfectly timed to inflict as much pain as possible.
"You like that?" MetalTyrannomon asked, striking him again. "Did you also like killing my friends? Huh?"
Alex sent a blob of saliva onto MetalTyrannomon's nose. "I don't enjoy killing anyone. I don't particularly like being hit either."
"What're you gonna' do?" MetalTyrannomon asked in mock fear. "Hit me with your little sword? Oh, the horror!"
"I'll kick your sorry metal…" Alex began, before a beam of light filled the area, and a new creature stepped forward.
"That is enough." This new presence said. "After all, I'd like to pound the little 'hero', too."
Alex snarled at the newcomer. "And who are you?"
"The villain." He replied simply. This new being was just silver, wearing a silver robe, gauntlets, boots, and mask. "Or, rather, the Collector."
"Collector?" Alex wondered. "Collector of what?"
The Collector grinned. "Of Digimon of course. And perhaps one foolish human."
Alex grunted. "My friends will rescue me. Even you can't stop them."
The Collector laughed. "Do you really think those four…idiots can stop me?"
"You bet I do." Alex nodded confidently.
The Collector smiled. "I love a challenge. But, if I allow the Digi-destined to enter, you must accept my challenge."
Alex looked at him. "What is it?"
"I am about to offer you what you always wanted." The Collector lifted Alex's tag. "To rid you of your crest and replace it, in exchange for your severance."
"Never!" Alex said defiantly.
"Either you test it out or no deal." The Collector informed stubbornly.
Alex resisted, and then sighed. "Fine. Let's do this."
"Excellent." The Collector smiled. He presented Alex with an electronic visor. "Put this on. It will provide a fully-enhanced simulation."
Alex nodded, as his hands were unchained. He placed the visor over his eyes, and grunted as he fell unconscious, entering the dream state of the simulation.
MetalTyrannomon walked over. "Are you going to follow his wishes, master?"
"Of course not." The Collector replied simply. "The Digi-destined will
come…before we crush them, that is."
Inside Alex's mind, something very different was happening. He was not with the American Digi-destined, instead, with Davis, and T.K., and Ken, and Yolei and Cody and…Kari. All of them looked happy to see him.
"Hey, Alex! Welcome back!" Davis greeted.
"It's so good to see you again." T.K. said, shaking his hand.
"We missed you a lot." Kari informed him.
Alex nodded, as he noticed Kunemon sleeping on his shoulder as well as his sword in its scabbard on his back.
"What happened to the other Digi-destined?" Cody asked.
"Michael's with them." Alex explained. "They found the new crests and everything."
"Ever since you got that Crest of Heroes you were pretty cheerful." T.K. said. "Why the sudden change?"
Alex finally looked down at his crest. Its symbol had changed. "This
is wrong…" He said. "It's all wrong…"
Back in the Digital world, the American Digi-destined walked up to the Collector's fortress, which was unguarded. Inside, they discovered how relatively small it was. MetalTyrannomon stood in a corridor before them.
"Digi-destined, we have been expecting you." MetalTyrannomon informed them. "Right this way, please." He gestured for them to follow, and led them to a central chamber. They saw Alex lying on the ground, Kunemon in chains. His sword, Digivice and crest were all on a table nearby. A single creature sat in a large chair in the center.
"Ah, the American Digi-destined. Greetings to you." He greeted. "I am the Collector. I brought you here."
"What have you done with Alex?" Michael demanded.
"Don't worry, he's merely unconscious." The Collector explained. "I wanted to see how well you'd operate without him."
"You're in for some trouble then, pal." Adam promised. "Ready, Angela?"
She nodded. "Now you'll see why it took us so long to get here!" Their all ready Champion Digimon took battle stances. "Digi-volve!"
"Apemon, Digi-volve to…" Apemon changed from the humanoid into a lumbering mastodon, with large tusks and shaggy brown fur. Its body was also covered in metal parts, with an eye like symbol at the face. "Mammothmon!"
"Veedramon, Digi-volve to…" Veedramon didn't change much in appearance. It was still a dragon, but with longer, darker horns and claws, as well as large wings at its back. "AeroVeedramon!"
MetalTyrannomon gasped in surprise as the two Ultimates walked towards him. They were followed shortly by MegaSeadramon and Ebidramon, which greatly outnumbered the dinosaur. "Boss…I have a problem, here…"
"Blast it, do I have to do everything myself?" the Collector raised a hand. "Neo Beam!" He fired the blast of green energy from his hand, but the Digimon and Digi-destined ducked.
"What?" Michael wondered. "He's using Neomon's move! Impossible!"
"I know the attacks of all Digimon." The Collector explained. "Try it! Thunder Ball!" He flung the sphere of electricity, which slammed MegaSeadramon away.
"Magnum Crusher!" AeroVeedramon slammed its fists hard to the ground, sending shock waves towards the Collector.
"Tusk Crusher!" Mammothmon launched twin missiles from openings in its tusks. Both attacks hit the Collector, though he stood through it, virtually unaffected.
"My turn." The Collector grinned. "Big Bang attack!" He threw a sphere forward, which exploded in a blast of light. The Digi-destined dropped to the ground before they were hit. MetalTyrannomon used the opportunity to take off.
"We have to fight back…" Michael said, lifting himself weakly.
"Clown Trick!" the Collector fired a shapeless blast, which sent Michael and MegaSeadramon flying.
"We could seriously use a miracle about now." Jennifer muttered, not noticing her crest glowing.
"Jennifer…" Adam said, looking at the crest.
"Huh?" Jennifer looked at it as well. "Oh!"
"I can Digi-volve!" Ebidramon realized, and focused its energy.
"Go for it!" Jennifer encouraged.
"Ebidramon, Digi-volve to…" Ebidramon changed a great deal. It was now a light brown color, with a long, curved tail at the back. It had large mandibles for jaws, as well as large blades where its claws used to be. A large, bladed tip was at the end of its tail. "Scorpiomon!"
The Collector finally took notice as he now faced four Ultimate Digimon.
"What? More? Oh, well…bring it on!"
Back within Alex's mind, he watched as the Digi-destined were all happy to see him, especially Kari, who gazed at him with loving eyes. It wasn't long until she confessed that she loved him since the day they met.
Alex's reply was similar, and they kissed passionately for a few moments. That was, until Alex broke away. "No, this is wrong…"
"What do you mean?" Kari asked, surprised.
"This is all wrong. It isn't happening." Alex said. He pulled out his sword, and declared: "It's all a lie!"
Outside, the visor broke on his eyes, and Alex lifted himself.
"What?" the Collector turned from the battle. "What's going on?"
Alex lifted up his sword. "You're dead meat, pal. Kunemon!"
"You got it!" Kunemon focused. "Kunemon, Warp-Digivolve to…" it passed its Champion and Ultimate stages, emerging as the blackened warrior. "Darkmon!"
"Everyone, all together!" Alex ordered.
"Thunder Javelin!" MegaSeadramon began, launching a blast of electricity from its horn.
"Tusk Crusher!" Mammothmon launched twin missiles from its tusks.
"V-Blade!" AeroVeedramon shot a 'v' shaped blast from his chest, striking the Collector.
"Twin Sword!" Scorpiomon slammed the Collector with its sword-like hands.
"Dark Staff!" Darkmon swung its rod around, before slamming it into the Collector's skull.
The Collector grunted in pain, and saw his disadvantage. "You Digi-destined won this round." He said. "But, I will have vengeance!" He disappeared in a flash of light, leaving the Digi-destined victorious.
"We beat him!" Michael, Adam, Jennifer, Angela, and their Digimon celebrated.
"We haven't beat anything." Alex said, interrupting the celebration. "He escaped. We failed."
"Loosen up, Alex." Michael protested. "We'll get him next time."
"That leaves to be seen." Alex sheathed his sword, and walked out with
Kunemon.
In another, unseen place, a creature watched this display. It muttered
a single collection of words. "He's the one."