Till The End Of All
By CyberDracomon
Chapter 3 - Cataclysm
The next day TK found himself walking a familiar path through the park, the path that lead to the park's small lake, his usual meeting spot for Kari. This time he had Patamon with him, riding in a small gym bag to avoid anyone seeing him. Thankfully it was a Monday afternoon and very few people were in the park and the lake was usually empty, anyway. The teen was still on edge from the night before, he left for the date with every intention of proposing and never got up the nerve, it virtually ruined dinner for both of them. It didn't do much for his confidence, either, if he couldn't even do something he had been sure of for a year now. He thought he could do it once they reached Kari's door where it was more private, but to no avail, it didn't feel right for some reason. Maybe he could find a more suitable spot somewhere in the Digital World...
TK didn't have time to think about where before he came to the lake, mostly closed off from the rest of the park save an opening for the path. The main reason it was unpopular was it's difficult access and a lake on the other side of the park with easier access was available. Kari was already sitting lakeside on a bench, looking out onto the water, away from the path. Gatomon was already looking at TK, her sharp hearing catching their approach.
"Kari, they're here." Gatomon said, breaking her partner's trance. Kari looked over her shoulder, smiling at TK.
"Sorry if we're late." TK said, shaking off his uncomfortable feeling. He unzipped the gym bag before gently setting it on the ground, letting Patamon flap out and take to the air.
"It's alright, at least you got here at all." She replied. TK walked over to the bench, sitting down beside her. Gatomon jumped off the bench and ran across the ground, eventually reaching a tree, jumping onto it and using her claws to climb into the leaves of it. Patamon hesitated for a while before slowly following after. Their human partners watched the entire act, both in confusion.
"Any idea what that was about?" Kari asked. "They usually talk along with us, they've never been secretive." TK could detect the worry in Kari's voice, but it was only slight, more out of confusion than anything.
"Don't worry, even Digimon have their secrets." TK said. "Those two haven't gotten a chance to talk privately in a long time, anyway." Kari nodded, knowing that as well as TK did.
"I guess you're right." She replied, taking his hand into her own. "So how has everything been? You were so nervous last night I never got a chance to actually talk to you." TK smiled nervously, slightly embarrassed at the fact.
"Not bad, really." TK responded. "I'm still hunting for an apartment, so far nothing for a Digidestined right out of high school." Kari smiled, a sign of her getting an upper hand on TK. By now he could read that sign a mile away.
"Well I've had a little luck." Kari mentioned. "I found one for rent, but I have to find a job that pays better first, it's too expensive for how much my current job pays." TK couldn't help but feel bad, not only because Kari couldn't get the apartment, but because she had found one before he did.
"At least one of us is having some luck." TK said. "At this rate it'll be months before I've got any chances for one." TK suddenly saw a look in Kari's eyes of an idea coming to her mind.
"Why don't we move into the same apartment?" She suggested suddenly, catching TK off guard. He had hoped that wasn't her idea, no clue how to take it.
"Kari, isn't that a little serious?" TK asked, suddenly feeling as nervous as he did last night. He found it kind of ironic that he would call moving in together too serious when he was the one considering marriage.
"TK, we've been dating for years, we see each other daily already." She said. "Think about it, the place is close to both of our current jobs, combined we could pay for rent and whatever we needed. It would even give Patamon and Gatomon a chance to see each other more often." The boy had to admit, the idea was kind of appealing... It seemed to work out perfect, he'd even get to see Kari daily without a long walk or drive somewhere. Still it was a bit sudden, maybe he wasn't as prepared for things like this as he had thought...
Meanwhile the two Digimon had met up in the tree, both taking seats on the highest branch they could get to. Gatomon leaned back on her branch, resting against the trunk of the tree. Patamon's branch was wider, letting him lay down on it. The two both had the same idea, meet and work out whatever happened last night, but neither seemed eager to begin, knowing it was bound to get complicated.
"...So..." Patamon finally got out. "...Gatomon, about last night..." Gatomon turned to the orange Digimon, shaking her head.
"Patamon..." Gatomon said, a nervous tone to her words. It was rare when Patamon ever heard anything nervous out of her. "You know neither one of us can explain whatever that was last night, are you sure you want to bring it up?" Patamon hesitated, reconsidering for a second, but then nodded.
"We can't just avoid it, it's always going to be there." He explained. Gatomon had to agree, no way she could ever get that sensation out of her memory.
"You have a point, but what is there to do about it?" She asked. "We did it, we both felt... something... and what after that?" Patamon wished he could answer, but didn't have an answer to give.
"Maybe just to enjoy the feeling." He said. "Maybe that's why TK and Kari did it." Gatomon thought for a second, then shook her head.
"No, they did it for some other reason..." She said, thinking back to the previous night. "There was something about theirs that was important somehow, it wasn't just for that sensation. For all we know humans might not ever get that same feeling when they do it." Patamon hadn't thought about that, Digimon and humans were so different he hadn't considered it before.
"Well what's different, then?" He asked. "What do they have that we don't that could have any reason to do that?" Gatomon had to think about it for a second, the Digimon were very much like their human companions and there was little they didn't share the same way...
"...They're in love, Patamon." Gatomon finally realized. "That's what they have that we don't, and whatever that was they did was meant as a show of love. It wasn't meant for us to try." Patamon thought about it for a second before concluding that she was right... So why didn't he like the idea of it at all? Hearing her talk like that almost... hurt... but with a pain he never knew before, one that burned in him, confusing him to no end... It was all too much to take in at once...
"Patamon! Gatomon!" TK shouted. The two looked down from the tree, seeing TK standing under it, looking into it for them. "Sorry to interrupt but something's come up." Both confused, Patamon and Gatomon made their way down through the branches, not knowing why TK would suddenly call them down. When they reached the bottom they saw Kari standing behind TK, holding onto her D-Terminal, which she still carried around just in case.
"We got an e-mail from the Digital World." Kari explained. "I don't know who it was from, but they want us to go to Andromon's city as soon as we can." The two Digimon shared a quick glance, both looking for some idea as to what was going on.
"Feels like the old days." TK joked. "Let's not keep them waiting, we can use my computer back home." Kari nodded, not wanting to waste time. She reached down, picking up her small book bag and showing it to Gatomon. TK already had the gym bag in his hand, the zipper already open. The two Digimon looked at their respective carrying cases, neither one looking forward to riding in them again.
"Sorry, but you know you can't just wander around in the open." Kari said, opening her book bag and setting it down to allow Gatomon into it. She and Patamon sighed at the same time, slowly approaching their "ride" to TK's apartment.
**********
Thankfully TK didn't live too far and it was only a few minutes before Gatomon and Patamon were freed from the bags, now in TK's room. TK was standing over them, being the one that unzipped them, while Kari was already booting up the gateway to the Digital World. Both Digimon were relieved to be out of the bags, but felt a sense of joy to be returning to the Digital World after so long. There hadn't been any need for them to return there so there was no telling what had changed.
"Okay, it's ready." Kari said, stepping back from the monitor. TK immediately noticed the familiar screen of the digital gate, already set to take them to the dome city and open for access. He reached into his pocket, drawing out his green D-3, always keeping it on hand.
"Let's go, Patamon." TK said, stepping up to the monitor. He felt a certain chill in his spine, looking forward to returning to the Digital World. Patamon flew over, landing on his partner's shoulder, just as eager to make the return. TK held the small device to the monitor, watching it glow as the two reacted to each other. His vision flashed to white before seeing the familiar digital tunnel, as colorful and complex as ever. TK never did get used to being 'downloaded' like this, but it was always breathtaking.
When his vision returned to normal, TK was standing in the Digital World for the first time in quite a while. He expected to see Andromon's city as soon as he landed, but saw nothing but hills and tall rocks in every direction, like a valley that had been thrown together. He looked back at the monitor, noting that it was on it's side and very oddly placed, like it had been thrown into it's current location. It came to life suddenly, beaming Kari and Gatomon into the Digiworld, landing them right beside TK and Patamon. The two girls look as confused as the boys at the unexpected scenery.
"I thought this monitor set us in front of the city." Kari said. "Did it get moved?" Gatomon walked around, examining the area, trying to get her bearings.
"It should be to the north, over these hills." She said, pointing to a hill behind the monitor. TK walked over, passing the monitor, and began a slow walk up the hill, which was harder than expected. Patamon took flight to lighten his load a little, staying in midair behind him. At the top TK took a second to collect himself before looking out at the horizon. It took him a second to realize what he saw, letting out a silent gasp of horror.
"Kari, come up here, quick!" TK shouted down to the girls. Both of them took attention, running past the monitor and up the hill, in more of a rush than TK and Patamon. At the top the two looked out, not taking long to realize what TK had.
"...What happened here..." Kari managed to say. Before the four of them was a city-sized scorch mark in the ground with a great deal of shrapnel scattered everywhere. It was the remains of the dome city, now nothing more than ash and burned scrap metal. None of the buildings survived whatever had happened, with the only ones still standing either broken in half or melted down, making them lean to one side.
"...Let's get down there, maybe something's left." TK said, trying to focus his thoughts. Looking at such destruction got to him somehow, no matter how much of it he had seen since becoming a Digidestined. He tried to keep it out of his mind, starting down the hill toward the city. Patamon flew after with Kari and Gatomon not far behind. Everyone was a step slow, approaching the now ruined city, none of them looking forward to a close up look, just knowing they had to look.
The remains of the city were farther away than expected and took a while to reach, but once they did they could see the extent of the damage. Most of the roads had been blown away or melted into lumps of steel, smaller buildings were leveled while taller ones were damaged beyond repair, with very few still standing at their full height. Many areas of the ground were blown away, exposing the underground sewers and tunnels, which seemed to be the only thing that survived.
"It looks like a bomb went off..." Patamon said, feeling overwhelmed by the destruction around him. Gatomon shook her head, just as overwhelmed.
"No bomb could have done this..." She said. "I don't even think a Digimon could have done it." TK had to agree, it looked like something incinerated the city from above, but no Digimon was that powerful. No Digimon he had ever seen, at least, other than Azulongmon.
"I wonder if anything survived..." Kari said, looking around the rubble for some sign of life. Even TK doubted anything could life through such destruction, but if something in the Digital World could cause such damage, maybe something could withstand it, too. He started walking deeper into the city, looking through rubble and debris of the towers and buildings. TK even looked down into any of the exposed sewers he passed, hoping someone might have escaped underground. Unfortunately it looked like even the Numemon underground weren't safe, though.
"TK, Kari, over here!" Patamon shouted from the air. TK looked up, finding Patamon a few yards away, hovering over a loose pile of scrap metal. TK made his way passed the field of shrapnel and over to Patamon, just as Kari and Gatomon made it to him, as well. Patamon landed on the ground in front of what looked like a metal hand sticking out if the rubble, still moving, slowly scratching the ground like whoever was buried was trying to escape.
"Help me try and move some of this metal off of him." TK said, taking hold of some of the debris the Digimon was buried under. Kari stood beside TK and grabbed the same piece of metal, both pushing as hard as they could to get it off the pile. Gatomon and Patamon watched the two struggle to move the scrap, eventually pushing it over and onto the ground, along with a few smaller chunks it was supporting. With that job done, TK took hold of another, considerably smaller, piece of rubble, guessing the Digimon's head would be under it, and slowly carried it to the side, setting it down beside the now half uncovered Digimon.
"It's Andromon!" Gatomon said, immediately recognizing the Digimon. "Looks like he's gone through a demolition derby." TK had to agree, he was surprised Andromon was still alive at all. Most of his metal body was dented and scorched, some was even ripped, showing internal circuits and gears, he almost looked like a different breed of Digimon. Kari kneeled down and looked over the face of Andromon, trying to find some sign of consciousness.
"Andromon, can you hear me?" Kari said into the Digimon's face. "It's me, Kari. Remember?" TK couldn't help but remember the last time Kari pleaded to Andromon like this, when a black ring was controlling him. Hopefully the outcome would be as favorable as that one. The four waited, watching the robotic Digimon to respond in any way.
"...Kari..." Andromon finally said, his usual mechanical voice weak. "...Can't see... Optic sensors... malfunctioning..." TK just now noticed the usual yellow glow to Andromon's eyes were gone, like a pair of dead Christmas lights.
"Andromon, are you alright?" TK asked, as concerned as Kari for their old friend. Obviously he was pretty damaged, but he knew how resilient Digimon could be.
"TK..." Andromon said, recognizing the voice of the Digidestined of Hope. "Will be... Automatic repair systems... intact... Estimated repair time... unknown..." TK was relieved to hear that, at least he knew Andromon would be as good as new at some point.
"Do you know what happened?" Kari asked, hoping the Digimon was well enough to remember. Slowly Andromon nodded, kicking up a few sparks from his neck joints as he did so.
"Memory... recall... damaged..." Andromon said. "Remember... blackness... a black field falling on the city... and then... destruction..." That didn't tell much, but to TK it sounded like it wasn't even a Digimon that had done it...
"We aren't strong enough to get the rest of the rubble off of you." TK said regretfully. "Will you be alright here?" Again the android Digimon nodded, with only a few sparks coming up. Maybe those repair systems were already working.
"Do not worry..." Andromon answered. "Robotic Digimon do not feel pain... When repaired... I can move the debris easily." TK was relieved to hear that. It would be impossible for them to move the rest of the scrap off of him without a lot of help.
"TK..." Kari said, a kind of worried tone to her voice. "What could have caused all of this? Was it even a Digimon?" She picked up on the same idea as TK, but didn't know anymore than he did it seemed. TK could only shake his head, still with little idea of what to think.
"I don't know, I wish I did..." He said, looking up from Andromon. "...I hate to say it, but I doubt it's finished..." TK took another look around at the scorched ruins of the city, somehow just now realizing what they were up against. They only knew what it could do, no clue what it looked like, where it was... and even worse, no idea when it would return.
End Chapter 3
Coming Next: Chapter 4 - Dream
Want to know when a new chapter is posted? Use this URL to sign up for my mailing list to know when new chapters/stories are up!
http://cyberdraco.notifylist.com/cdm_alert.html
By CyberDracomon
Chapter 3 - Cataclysm
The next day TK found himself walking a familiar path through the park, the path that lead to the park's small lake, his usual meeting spot for Kari. This time he had Patamon with him, riding in a small gym bag to avoid anyone seeing him. Thankfully it was a Monday afternoon and very few people were in the park and the lake was usually empty, anyway. The teen was still on edge from the night before, he left for the date with every intention of proposing and never got up the nerve, it virtually ruined dinner for both of them. It didn't do much for his confidence, either, if he couldn't even do something he had been sure of for a year now. He thought he could do it once they reached Kari's door where it was more private, but to no avail, it didn't feel right for some reason. Maybe he could find a more suitable spot somewhere in the Digital World...
TK didn't have time to think about where before he came to the lake, mostly closed off from the rest of the park save an opening for the path. The main reason it was unpopular was it's difficult access and a lake on the other side of the park with easier access was available. Kari was already sitting lakeside on a bench, looking out onto the water, away from the path. Gatomon was already looking at TK, her sharp hearing catching their approach.
"Kari, they're here." Gatomon said, breaking her partner's trance. Kari looked over her shoulder, smiling at TK.
"Sorry if we're late." TK said, shaking off his uncomfortable feeling. He unzipped the gym bag before gently setting it on the ground, letting Patamon flap out and take to the air.
"It's alright, at least you got here at all." She replied. TK walked over to the bench, sitting down beside her. Gatomon jumped off the bench and ran across the ground, eventually reaching a tree, jumping onto it and using her claws to climb into the leaves of it. Patamon hesitated for a while before slowly following after. Their human partners watched the entire act, both in confusion.
"Any idea what that was about?" Kari asked. "They usually talk along with us, they've never been secretive." TK could detect the worry in Kari's voice, but it was only slight, more out of confusion than anything.
"Don't worry, even Digimon have their secrets." TK said. "Those two haven't gotten a chance to talk privately in a long time, anyway." Kari nodded, knowing that as well as TK did.
"I guess you're right." She replied, taking his hand into her own. "So how has everything been? You were so nervous last night I never got a chance to actually talk to you." TK smiled nervously, slightly embarrassed at the fact.
"Not bad, really." TK responded. "I'm still hunting for an apartment, so far nothing for a Digidestined right out of high school." Kari smiled, a sign of her getting an upper hand on TK. By now he could read that sign a mile away.
"Well I've had a little luck." Kari mentioned. "I found one for rent, but I have to find a job that pays better first, it's too expensive for how much my current job pays." TK couldn't help but feel bad, not only because Kari couldn't get the apartment, but because she had found one before he did.
"At least one of us is having some luck." TK said. "At this rate it'll be months before I've got any chances for one." TK suddenly saw a look in Kari's eyes of an idea coming to her mind.
"Why don't we move into the same apartment?" She suggested suddenly, catching TK off guard. He had hoped that wasn't her idea, no clue how to take it.
"Kari, isn't that a little serious?" TK asked, suddenly feeling as nervous as he did last night. He found it kind of ironic that he would call moving in together too serious when he was the one considering marriage.
"TK, we've been dating for years, we see each other daily already." She said. "Think about it, the place is close to both of our current jobs, combined we could pay for rent and whatever we needed. It would even give Patamon and Gatomon a chance to see each other more often." The boy had to admit, the idea was kind of appealing... It seemed to work out perfect, he'd even get to see Kari daily without a long walk or drive somewhere. Still it was a bit sudden, maybe he wasn't as prepared for things like this as he had thought...
Meanwhile the two Digimon had met up in the tree, both taking seats on the highest branch they could get to. Gatomon leaned back on her branch, resting against the trunk of the tree. Patamon's branch was wider, letting him lay down on it. The two both had the same idea, meet and work out whatever happened last night, but neither seemed eager to begin, knowing it was bound to get complicated.
"...So..." Patamon finally got out. "...Gatomon, about last night..." Gatomon turned to the orange Digimon, shaking her head.
"Patamon..." Gatomon said, a nervous tone to her words. It was rare when Patamon ever heard anything nervous out of her. "You know neither one of us can explain whatever that was last night, are you sure you want to bring it up?" Patamon hesitated, reconsidering for a second, but then nodded.
"We can't just avoid it, it's always going to be there." He explained. Gatomon had to agree, no way she could ever get that sensation out of her memory.
"You have a point, but what is there to do about it?" She asked. "We did it, we both felt... something... and what after that?" Patamon wished he could answer, but didn't have an answer to give.
"Maybe just to enjoy the feeling." He said. "Maybe that's why TK and Kari did it." Gatomon thought for a second, then shook her head.
"No, they did it for some other reason..." She said, thinking back to the previous night. "There was something about theirs that was important somehow, it wasn't just for that sensation. For all we know humans might not ever get that same feeling when they do it." Patamon hadn't thought about that, Digimon and humans were so different he hadn't considered it before.
"Well what's different, then?" He asked. "What do they have that we don't that could have any reason to do that?" Gatomon had to think about it for a second, the Digimon were very much like their human companions and there was little they didn't share the same way...
"...They're in love, Patamon." Gatomon finally realized. "That's what they have that we don't, and whatever that was they did was meant as a show of love. It wasn't meant for us to try." Patamon thought about it for a second before concluding that she was right... So why didn't he like the idea of it at all? Hearing her talk like that almost... hurt... but with a pain he never knew before, one that burned in him, confusing him to no end... It was all too much to take in at once...
"Patamon! Gatomon!" TK shouted. The two looked down from the tree, seeing TK standing under it, looking into it for them. "Sorry to interrupt but something's come up." Both confused, Patamon and Gatomon made their way down through the branches, not knowing why TK would suddenly call them down. When they reached the bottom they saw Kari standing behind TK, holding onto her D-Terminal, which she still carried around just in case.
"We got an e-mail from the Digital World." Kari explained. "I don't know who it was from, but they want us to go to Andromon's city as soon as we can." The two Digimon shared a quick glance, both looking for some idea as to what was going on.
"Feels like the old days." TK joked. "Let's not keep them waiting, we can use my computer back home." Kari nodded, not wanting to waste time. She reached down, picking up her small book bag and showing it to Gatomon. TK already had the gym bag in his hand, the zipper already open. The two Digimon looked at their respective carrying cases, neither one looking forward to riding in them again.
"Sorry, but you know you can't just wander around in the open." Kari said, opening her book bag and setting it down to allow Gatomon into it. She and Patamon sighed at the same time, slowly approaching their "ride" to TK's apartment.
**********
Thankfully TK didn't live too far and it was only a few minutes before Gatomon and Patamon were freed from the bags, now in TK's room. TK was standing over them, being the one that unzipped them, while Kari was already booting up the gateway to the Digital World. Both Digimon were relieved to be out of the bags, but felt a sense of joy to be returning to the Digital World after so long. There hadn't been any need for them to return there so there was no telling what had changed.
"Okay, it's ready." Kari said, stepping back from the monitor. TK immediately noticed the familiar screen of the digital gate, already set to take them to the dome city and open for access. He reached into his pocket, drawing out his green D-3, always keeping it on hand.
"Let's go, Patamon." TK said, stepping up to the monitor. He felt a certain chill in his spine, looking forward to returning to the Digital World. Patamon flew over, landing on his partner's shoulder, just as eager to make the return. TK held the small device to the monitor, watching it glow as the two reacted to each other. His vision flashed to white before seeing the familiar digital tunnel, as colorful and complex as ever. TK never did get used to being 'downloaded' like this, but it was always breathtaking.
When his vision returned to normal, TK was standing in the Digital World for the first time in quite a while. He expected to see Andromon's city as soon as he landed, but saw nothing but hills and tall rocks in every direction, like a valley that had been thrown together. He looked back at the monitor, noting that it was on it's side and very oddly placed, like it had been thrown into it's current location. It came to life suddenly, beaming Kari and Gatomon into the Digiworld, landing them right beside TK and Patamon. The two girls look as confused as the boys at the unexpected scenery.
"I thought this monitor set us in front of the city." Kari said. "Did it get moved?" Gatomon walked around, examining the area, trying to get her bearings.
"It should be to the north, over these hills." She said, pointing to a hill behind the monitor. TK walked over, passing the monitor, and began a slow walk up the hill, which was harder than expected. Patamon took flight to lighten his load a little, staying in midair behind him. At the top TK took a second to collect himself before looking out at the horizon. It took him a second to realize what he saw, letting out a silent gasp of horror.
"Kari, come up here, quick!" TK shouted down to the girls. Both of them took attention, running past the monitor and up the hill, in more of a rush than TK and Patamon. At the top the two looked out, not taking long to realize what TK had.
"...What happened here..." Kari managed to say. Before the four of them was a city-sized scorch mark in the ground with a great deal of shrapnel scattered everywhere. It was the remains of the dome city, now nothing more than ash and burned scrap metal. None of the buildings survived whatever had happened, with the only ones still standing either broken in half or melted down, making them lean to one side.
"...Let's get down there, maybe something's left." TK said, trying to focus his thoughts. Looking at such destruction got to him somehow, no matter how much of it he had seen since becoming a Digidestined. He tried to keep it out of his mind, starting down the hill toward the city. Patamon flew after with Kari and Gatomon not far behind. Everyone was a step slow, approaching the now ruined city, none of them looking forward to a close up look, just knowing they had to look.
The remains of the city were farther away than expected and took a while to reach, but once they did they could see the extent of the damage. Most of the roads had been blown away or melted into lumps of steel, smaller buildings were leveled while taller ones were damaged beyond repair, with very few still standing at their full height. Many areas of the ground were blown away, exposing the underground sewers and tunnels, which seemed to be the only thing that survived.
"It looks like a bomb went off..." Patamon said, feeling overwhelmed by the destruction around him. Gatomon shook her head, just as overwhelmed.
"No bomb could have done this..." She said. "I don't even think a Digimon could have done it." TK had to agree, it looked like something incinerated the city from above, but no Digimon was that powerful. No Digimon he had ever seen, at least, other than Azulongmon.
"I wonder if anything survived..." Kari said, looking around the rubble for some sign of life. Even TK doubted anything could life through such destruction, but if something in the Digital World could cause such damage, maybe something could withstand it, too. He started walking deeper into the city, looking through rubble and debris of the towers and buildings. TK even looked down into any of the exposed sewers he passed, hoping someone might have escaped underground. Unfortunately it looked like even the Numemon underground weren't safe, though.
"TK, Kari, over here!" Patamon shouted from the air. TK looked up, finding Patamon a few yards away, hovering over a loose pile of scrap metal. TK made his way passed the field of shrapnel and over to Patamon, just as Kari and Gatomon made it to him, as well. Patamon landed on the ground in front of what looked like a metal hand sticking out if the rubble, still moving, slowly scratching the ground like whoever was buried was trying to escape.
"Help me try and move some of this metal off of him." TK said, taking hold of some of the debris the Digimon was buried under. Kari stood beside TK and grabbed the same piece of metal, both pushing as hard as they could to get it off the pile. Gatomon and Patamon watched the two struggle to move the scrap, eventually pushing it over and onto the ground, along with a few smaller chunks it was supporting. With that job done, TK took hold of another, considerably smaller, piece of rubble, guessing the Digimon's head would be under it, and slowly carried it to the side, setting it down beside the now half uncovered Digimon.
"It's Andromon!" Gatomon said, immediately recognizing the Digimon. "Looks like he's gone through a demolition derby." TK had to agree, he was surprised Andromon was still alive at all. Most of his metal body was dented and scorched, some was even ripped, showing internal circuits and gears, he almost looked like a different breed of Digimon. Kari kneeled down and looked over the face of Andromon, trying to find some sign of consciousness.
"Andromon, can you hear me?" Kari said into the Digimon's face. "It's me, Kari. Remember?" TK couldn't help but remember the last time Kari pleaded to Andromon like this, when a black ring was controlling him. Hopefully the outcome would be as favorable as that one. The four waited, watching the robotic Digimon to respond in any way.
"...Kari..." Andromon finally said, his usual mechanical voice weak. "...Can't see... Optic sensors... malfunctioning..." TK just now noticed the usual yellow glow to Andromon's eyes were gone, like a pair of dead Christmas lights.
"Andromon, are you alright?" TK asked, as concerned as Kari for their old friend. Obviously he was pretty damaged, but he knew how resilient Digimon could be.
"TK..." Andromon said, recognizing the voice of the Digidestined of Hope. "Will be... Automatic repair systems... intact... Estimated repair time... unknown..." TK was relieved to hear that, at least he knew Andromon would be as good as new at some point.
"Do you know what happened?" Kari asked, hoping the Digimon was well enough to remember. Slowly Andromon nodded, kicking up a few sparks from his neck joints as he did so.
"Memory... recall... damaged..." Andromon said. "Remember... blackness... a black field falling on the city... and then... destruction..." That didn't tell much, but to TK it sounded like it wasn't even a Digimon that had done it...
"We aren't strong enough to get the rest of the rubble off of you." TK said regretfully. "Will you be alright here?" Again the android Digimon nodded, with only a few sparks coming up. Maybe those repair systems were already working.
"Do not worry..." Andromon answered. "Robotic Digimon do not feel pain... When repaired... I can move the debris easily." TK was relieved to hear that. It would be impossible for them to move the rest of the scrap off of him without a lot of help.
"TK..." Kari said, a kind of worried tone to her voice. "What could have caused all of this? Was it even a Digimon?" She picked up on the same idea as TK, but didn't know anymore than he did it seemed. TK could only shake his head, still with little idea of what to think.
"I don't know, I wish I did..." He said, looking up from Andromon. "...I hate to say it, but I doubt it's finished..." TK took another look around at the scorched ruins of the city, somehow just now realizing what they were up against. They only knew what it could do, no clue what it looked like, where it was... and even worse, no idea when it would return.
End Chapter 3
Coming Next: Chapter 4 - Dream
Want to know when a new chapter is posted? Use this URL to sign up for my mailing list to know when new chapters/stories are up!
http://cyberdraco.notifylist.com/cdm_alert.html