[Okay, sorry it's a little late, but I was, and continue to be EXTREMELY bitter about having missed the season finale to digimon (stupid ACTs, stupid VCR) but I still have the next part ready, so enjoy!]

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"What's the big idea?!" shouted Matt as the door closed behind them.

"I'm saving your butts!" growled Ogremon. "Now follow me! We've got to go get your friends!"

"But what about—" said Tai.

"Andromon knows what he's doing," said Ogremon. "And he's got the Kunemon to back him up, so don't worry."

"Well… alright," said Tai. "Lead the way."

While those three headed off into the darkness, Andromon continued to struggle with Geno in the command center.

"You traitor," grunted Geno, who was still being held firmly by Andromon. "How could you betray me like this?!"

"I never betrayed you," said Andromon, struggling to keep Geno in control. "…Since I was never with you at all!"

"I can't believe I fell for such a ruse," said Geno. "You will pay for this."

"You fell for it because you were too confident," said Andromon. "Your pride has crushed your ambition."

"Not quite yet," said Geno. "The DigiDestined are still scattered, and they don't have their digivices. I still hold the five dark crests. They will not survive the day."

"Andromon!" shouted the emperor. "I demand you release him at once! Don't forget that you served me as well!"

"Your actions have condemned you, Andromon," hissed Stormdramon. "Now you will die."

"Hold yourself, Stomdramon," said Geno. "I can handle this."

"Troops!" shouted Andromon to the Kunemon, who had encircled the four of them. "Leave us now!"

"As you wish, sir," said the Kunemon, quickly vacating the room.

"You only saved them for a short while," said Geno. "I'll hunt them down soon enough. None of you will leave this facility alive."

"You're wrong," said Andromon. "Even now, our forced are moving in on your most guarded vaults. You may be strong, but with Stormdramon here, and Megadramon and Gigadramon unable to fight within the base, your forces shall fall. The white DigiEgg is as good as ours."

Geno's eyes went wide, realizing his fatal error. His expression then turned to anger as his crest began to glow with a fiery light. Only now did he realize that having the DigiEgg here had acted like a homing beacon, drawing in digimon from all over the Digital World. Infuriated, he shot a bolt of incredibly destructive red lightning from his crest, piercing Andromon's mechanical body and shredding it away. Geno was free and Andromon lay on the ground with little more than his upper torso, head, and bits of his arms remaining.

"My life… is a small price to pay…" said Andromon, his voice growing slower. "…to defeat you. G…A…M…E… O…V…E…R… virus."

The light in Andromon's eyes faded out. His body relaxed, as bits of data began to break off.

"What are you waiting for?!" demanded Geno of his two companions. "Get out there and stop this little insurrection before it gets any worse!"

A short time later, the DigiDestined that were still imprisoned began to hear the sounds of battle reverberating throughout the surrounding corridors.

"What's going on out there?" asked Davis.

"I don't know," said Kari. "But I'm sure Tai is in the middle of it."

"Well, whatever works," said Joe. "I just hope it gets us out of here."

"Battle!" shouted a voice in the next cell over.

"Sounds like Keramon is awake again," said Yolei. "That's the last thing we need. If we get free and Geno doesn't kill us, the Keramon sure will."

"RELEASE ME!" screamed Keramon, slamming his body all around in his tiny prison.

"We've got to get out there and help," said Kari. "Hey, can our digimon hear us?"

"If they could, chances are we'd have heard from them by now," said Cody.

"Based on your description of these cells, I don't think it's soundproofing," said Izzy. "I would assume that either our digimon have been moved, they've been sedated, or…"

"No need to finish that sentence," said Michael somberly.

They were all quiet for the moment, but the sounds of Keramon's raging and those of battle continued.

"Here it is!" said a muffled voice from outside.

"It's locked!" said a second voice. "I can't get it open!"

"Looks like it needs a code to unlock," said the first. "Do you think we should ask someone?"

"No time," said the second. "Let's just blow it open."

"Who's out there?!" yelled TK.

"Don't worry DigiDestined!" shouted back the first voice. "Just back away from the door and we'll have you out of there in no time!"

They all moved to the back of the room, although Mimi and Sora did require a little extra prodding.

"Okay!" shouted TK. "Go ahead!"

"Here we go!" said the first voice.

Nothing happened for a few seconds, and then the group noticed that the door was starting to glow slightly red in the middle. This red spot quickly grew in size and intensity, and pretty soon the whole door was red-hot. The intense heat caused the metal to rapidly expand, creating steam and creaking noises. A few bolts and rivets were even blown off, but fortunately they didn't hit anyone. After nearly a minute of this, two areas of the door right next to each other were white-hot, and then a pair of fiery hands broke through. With impressive strength, the hands seized onto the door and yanked it from the wall, frame and all, and threw it into the corridor. The dust settled, revealing their savior: Meramon.

"Good to see you all again," said Meramon, stepping into the room. "It's been a while."

"Sure has," said Joe. "I think the last time we saw each other was the battle with Piedmon."

"Yeah, those were some crazy times," said Meramon.

"Excuse me!" yelled the other voice, still in the hall. "There's no time for these happy reunions!"

"He's right," said Meramon. "Quickly, you DigiDestined must come with me."

The whole group quickly went out into the hall, where Meramon's partner, a short digimon in a purple hat and cape with his back to them was fiddling with the door opposite their own cell.

"Aha! Got it!" exclaimed the digimon as a spark shot up from where he was working.

The door opened and he turned around, giving the others a thumbs-up.

"Wizardmon!" exclaimed Kari, instantly recognizing her old friend.

"In the flesh," said Wizardmon. "But we can talk later. Let's get your digimon now."

The whole group rushed in to the room. Meramon stood guard and Wizardmon rushed to Gatomon along with Kari. The other DigiDestined all ran to their respective digimon, who were passed out on the ground.

"Tentomon!" Izzy called as he shook his friend.

"Wake up buddy," said Joe to Gomamon.

"Snap out of it guys," said Willis, picking up both of his digimon and shaking them around.

"Well now what?" asked Cody, hunched over Armadillomon.

"Don't worry," said Wizardmon, standing upright. "I can wake them up."

Wizardmon held his right hand out in front of him with the middle and index fingers extended. A small sphere of white light appeared in front of them, and he closed his eyes. In one quick motion, he spun around in a complete circle, raising his hand over his head as he did so and leaving a trail of white light. With his hand extended straight up over his head, Wizardmon snapped his fingers, creating a momentary gust of wind to rush up from beneath him, accompanied by a brilliant flash of light. The digimon all woke up immediately, their eyes shooting open.

"What happened?" asked Gatomon, sitting up and rubbing her head.

"Just a little spell I picked up along the way," said Wizardmon.

"Gatomon, you're awake!" said Kari, embracing her friend.

"Good to see you again pal!" said Davis, rubbing Veemon's head.

"Did ya' miss me?" asked TK.

"Of course I did!" said Patamon.

"Hey, where's Tai?" asked Agumon.

"And Matt?" asked Gabumon.

"And Ken?" added Wormmon.

"Uh… they're not with us right now," said Izzy.

"Sora?" asked Biyomon. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," said Sora flatly. "Don't bother me."

"Are you okay, Mimi?" asked Palmon.

"No I'm not okay!" said Mimi. "I've been stuck in that dreadful little box for days and now everyone expects me to go after some evil creep! Well I'm not doing it! The only place I'm going is home! I want a nice bath! I want a decent bed! I want real food! I want…"

"This could go on for a while," said Davis.

"Wizardmon, is there anything you can do for them?" asked Kari.

"What's the problem?" asked Wizardmon.

"The virus did something to their crests, and now they're like this," said Kari. "Can you help?"

"I'm afraid not," said Wizardmon. "The crests do not control the person's emotions. It's the person's emotions that control the crest. What has been done, has been done to them. In order to resolve their conflict, it must be resolved within them."

"Wizardmon!" called Meramon. "This is no time for a tea party! Let's get going!"

"He's right," said Wizardmon. "Come on, we have to move."

"Right," said the others.

They all ducked out into the hall and headed for the exit. However, Kari stopped after a few feet and grabbed Willis by the shirt, bringing him to a stop as well. She had that look in her eyes again.

"Willis," said Kari. "You must go to him. We need him just as much as he needs us."

"But… who… how?" stammered Willis.

"You know who I'm talking about," said Kari. "Just trust me. We need him. Now go to him."

Willis nodded and began walking back in the direction they had just come from.

"What are you doing?" asked Davis, turning to his friend.

"Something that I should've done a long time ago," said Willis. "Terriermon! Lopmon! I need your help!"

"With what?" asked the brothers.

"Think you can open the door to Keramon's cell?" asked Willis.

"Are you NUTS?!" shouted Izzy. "Don't you think we have enough problems to deal with already?!"

"Look, I don't know how to explain it," said Willis. "It's just… Keramon is my creation. I'm responsible for everything he's been through. I think we should at least meet while we have the chance."

"So there's no way to talk you down?" asked Izzy.

"Afraid not," said Willis.

"Then we'll be right behind you," said Izzy.

"I wouldn't have it any other way," said Willis. "Ready guys?"

"Ready!" said the twin digimon, who stood in front of Keramon's door.

"Fire!" shouted Willis.

Both digimon opened their mouths wide, sucking in air. Terriermon and Lopmon formed green and pink spheres of energy in front of their mouths respectively. Once fully charged, they both fired their Bunny Blasts. The simultaneous attack blew through the door, leaving a hole easily large enough for Willis and his two digimon to pass through. The others all remained outside, clearly on guard.

"Uh… Keramon?" asked Willis, slowly walking forward.

Keramon was standing at the rear of the cell. His face was shadowy, and he was breathing in rapidly. He had a sinister glint in his eye, and an aggressive posture.

"Data…" grumbled Keramon upon seeing Terriermon and Lopmon. "Must feed!"

"Keramon! Stop!" commanded Willis before Keramon could rush the two Rookies. "I'm not going to let you have them."

"So hungry…" said Keramon. "Getting tired. Must consume."

"Well you can't hurt them," said Willis. "They're my friends."

"If… if no eat, then die."

"Don't worry. I promise that as soon as we get you outta' here I'll get you a steak the size of your head."

"No meat," said Keramon. "Only data. If no get data, then you must destroy. Destroy…"

"I don't understand," said Willis, leaning in close and looking Keramon in the eyes.

"Destoy… me…"

"But why, Keramon? Why does it have to be like this?"

"Pain… so much pain. Both caused and received. Want vengeance, but also want rest. Want freedom."

"I'm sorry," Willis said sullenly, looking away. "I'm so sorry. I should've never tried to create you. Look what it's gotten us. You've been a slave to that maniacal virus for most of your life, and now you're just a poor, lost, tortured soul."

"No cry…" said Keramon. "No hate you for creating. Hate virus for destroying."

"Does that mean…?"

"Destroy…" said Keramon. "Destroy… VIRUS…"

Elsewhere in the facility, Stormdramon had once again digivolved to his Ultimate form, and he was on the warpath. In one of the larger corridor hubs, he was engaged in battle alongside three Mekanorimon. With one whip of his tail he mercilessly sliced through four Mushroomon, clearing the room of opponents.

"This room is clear," said Metaldracomon. "Let's move on."

"Not so fast," said a voice from the darkened hallway ahead.

"Another challenger has come to face me?" asked Metaldracomon. "I just love it when they fall right into my hands like this."

"You will not find me such easy prey," said the figure stepping into the light.

Six inches tall, fluffy and pink with dainty wings, carrying a spear, and now clad in a bandana, a pair of army boots, and with ammo belts strapped across his torso, there stood Piximon.

"Bring it on," said Piximon.

"Gladly," said Metaldracomon. "Mekanorimon! Eliminate this… pest!"

The three Mekanorimon charged at Piximon, but he quickly launched a counterattack, slicing each of them apart with his razor-sharp spear. All three were reduced to scrap in a couple seconds, leaving Metaldracomon to face the pint-sized powerhouse alone.

"It's been a while," said Piximon. "I remember the days when I trained you. You were my most talented student, but now just look at what you've become."

"Strange," said Metaldracomon. "I don't remember you at all. I think you're lying about having trained me."

"Oh, that's right," said Piximon as if remembering something. "I remember Gennai telling me you'd lost your memories. That's a shame, since now you can't remember that you never beat me even once."

"I doubt that somehow," said Metaldracomon.

"You shouldn't," said Piximon. "I've had many students a lot stronger than you, and I can still whip each and every one of them."

"And yet you were overcome by the Dark Masters with such ease."

"I don't know what you've heard, but why do you think they all came after me together? They knew that I could still waste them in a one-on-one fight. And remember that THEY were Megas. But now, I'm back and tough as ever. Those guys are still pushing up daisies, and as far as I'm concerned, that's the way it's going to stay."

"Your boasts will get you nowhere, old mon," said Metaldracomon. "I think it's time you put away your words and tested your metal instead."

"You still have a lot to learn, boy," said Piximon. "Lucky for you I'm willing to teach."

Piximon immediately threw off his ammo belts, bandana, and boots to relieve himself of the encumbrance they provided. He stretched out his arms for a moment before gripping his spear firmly.

"Ready?" asked Piximon.

"No games," said Metaldracomon. "I play for keeps."

Metaldracomon lunged forward.