Digimon.EXE

By Wolf O'Donnell

WARNING! May contain Alternative Universe situations and out-of-character experiences. Upon reading this, you hereby agree that you forfeit all your rights to sue me and that I cannot be held liable for any psychological or physical damage caused by the fact that I use British English spelling and that this fanfic DOES NOT contain graphic depictions of a heterosexual nature. Digimon is copyrighted by Bandai and Toei Animation Ltd. Wolf O'Donnell is copyrighted by Nintendo Ltd, although that might have nothing to do with the fanfic. Digimon.EXE is based on Rockman.EXE, which is copyrighted by Capcom Ltd. Constructive criticism is very welcome.

* * * * *

Session 20: Akiramenaide

Gallantmon_v2.0 looked in front of him. The others were with him. Cyberdramon, Dobermon, MegaGargomon and Rena, all stood with him. They stood on a metallic platform made out of metallic tiles. This floated in a dark void that had the Hypnos symbol floating in it. This was the inside of the hacking rocket and they were face to face with what could only have been one thing, the very thing that they had come to destroy.
In front of them floated a black blob of energy with smaller blobs of energy orbiting it like electrons around a proton or Trekkies around William Shatner. It was obvious to the Digimon concerned that the sphere of black energy in front of them was the Juggernaut Virus. Destroying it would seem easy. It looked small.
That was when it enlarged. The virus revealed its true form to them. The thing looked like a black dodecahedron with a pentagonal-shaped platform on top. Huge metallic claws on chains shot out of the dodecahedron and from the top of the platform, a head appeared, followed by arms and a body. The creature looked like a hornless Devimon from the waist upwards with a cape instead of wings and had two sets of tubes, one red and one blue, going in and out of its torso. And surrounding the Juggernaut Virus was a shimmering, purple, translucent forcefield.
"You can't destroy my Juggernaut virus," laughed Yamaki insanely. "It will crush you miserable Digimon!"
"Not if I can help it!" retorted Gallantmon_v2.0. His voice, instead of sounding like a mature version of Guilmon, like it did when he was Gallantmon, sounded like a combination of Gallantmon's voice and Takato's voice. Perhaps that was because he was linked to Takato more closely than he had been before. A short, two-pronged spear appeared in his right hand. He fired a poweful beam of holy energy at Juggernaut.
The energy beam was absorbed by the Juggernaut's powerful shield.
"Behold the power of my UltraBarrier!" cackled Yamaki. "It is the ultimate forcefield. Nothing can penetrate it! Now, my wonderful creation, show them the power of your Darkness Zone attack!"
The Juggernaut roared and grunted, much like a B-movie version of Frankenstein would. It thrust its arms outwards and a huge beam of black energy that glowed red at its edges, fired out from the main body of the Juggernaut Virus. The Digimon leapt out of the way. The Juggernaut virus growled angrily at its mistake. It crossed its arms. One of its metallic claws then lashed out at a Digimon.
Rena suddenly found herself trapped in its metallic claw and lifted up away from the other Digimon.
"Let go of me, you ugly virus!" she cried, as she launched her Spirit Strike against the virus. It was no use. The Juggernaut Virus was too powerful.
"Try attacking the Juggernaut together," suggested Jenrya. "Perhaps you can overload the UltraBarrier."
"Sounds good to me," said MegaGargomon. "Mega Barrage!" One of the Juggernaut's metallic claws lashed out at him. He dived out of the way, as another snaked out towards him.
Cyberdramon ducked underneath one himself, before firing his Desolation Claw against the Juggernaut's UltraBarrier.
Four attacks hit the UltraBarrier. Dobermon's attack, Cyberdramon's attack, MegaGargomon's and Gallantmon_v2.0's attacks all smashed into the forcefield. The purple UltraBarrier fell. The Juggernaut was suddenly exposed to the Digimon.
A smile spread across MegaGargomon's face.
"Now that's much more like it!" he exclaimed. "Gargo Missile!" He fired two large missiles straight at the Juggernaut Virus, as Gallantmon_v2.0 leapt into the air and slashed at the Juggernaut's metallic claws with his sword. "Darn!" he cursed, as the Juggernaut Virus deflected his missiles with its metallic claws.
It only took one clean swipe with his sword to severe the chain of the metallic claw that held Rena.
"You okay?" he asked her.
"I'm fine," replied Rena. "Watch out!" she cried, and she dived towards Gallantmon_v2.0, pushing him out of the way. The two of them narrowly missed being hit by one of Juggernaut's metallic claws. "Spirit Strike!" she called out, and launched four spirits of elemental power against the virus.
The Juggernaut regenerated its UltraBarrier. Rena's Spirit Strike never hit it. The virus grinned at the two Digimon. It uncrossed its arms. There was suddenly a huge explosion and it struck all the Digimon. A hatch opened up on the Juggernaut's side and out flew threw grenades. They landed on the floor in front of the Digimon and formed three viruses. Each one looked like an abstract, metallic cricket with spider's legs. One was red, the second was blue and the third was yellow.
"I hope you like my Juggernaut Virus' Cull Viruses," chuckled Yamaki. "They're specially designed to serve the Juggernaut and to destroy you!"
The blue one fired a jet of water at straight at Gallantmon. He leapt out of ther way.
"This is too much," cried Gallantmon_v2.0. He noticed that the Juggernaut's arms were still uncrossed and that the metallic claws now floated about aimlessly. Was it that they could only be used if its arms were crossed? "Where's those Modify Advances?" he asked, as he dodged the blue Cull's water jet attack. 'They're attacking us according to which one of us is more suspectible to their attacks,' realised Gallantmon_v2.0.
"I've got one!" cried out Ruki. "Try this! DigiModify- Max Force activate!"
Rena rushed straight at the yellow Cull and slashed at it several times with her staff. Its spidery legs snapped off, as Rena leapt into the air. As she landed on top of the Cull, she thrust her staff into the yellow Cull, piercing it. The thing disintergrated and left behind a datacap, which she could took before the Juggernaut Virus could react.
Juggernaut crossed its arms again. The Digimon were too preoccupied with fighting the smaller viruses that they didn't notice the metallic claws moving about again until it was too late. The virus grabbed each Digimon and plucked them off the floor.
Only Gallantmon_v2.0 managed to avoid that fate. Having a special bond with his Operator was an advantage. It was as if his response time had doubled. It was if he had the strength of two people.
"Put them down!" roared Gallantmon_v2.0, as he leapt into the air. An Advance appeared in his hands unbidden. Or was it that Takato had called for the Advance? "DigiModify- Power Quake activate!" He threw a large weight into the air, which hovered above the Juggernaut before it slammed down on top of it.
The UltraBarrier disintergrated and a roar of pain escaped Juggernaut's mouth. It flung the Digimon it held away from it.
"Rena, are you okay? Rena?"
"Dobermon! Dobermon, speak to me!"
"No, Cyberdramon, get up!"
"MegaGargomon, you okay, buddy? MegaGargomon?"
Gallantmon_v2.0 momentarily looked behind him. The Digimon were all lying unconscious on the metallic floor. He whirled back round to face the Juggernaut. 'It looks like it's just me, then,' he thought to himself. 'I'm alone now.'
"You're not alone, Gallantmon," Takato told him softly. "I'm there with you, remember? I know it sounds really corny, but we're one with each other now."
Gallantmon_v2.0 smiled and then nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, we are, aren't we?" he said, and he couldn't repress that smile. It was good to know that his Operator... no... his friend was there with him. "Let's destroy this thing, shall we?"
"Yeah, let's," agreed Takato.
And though Gallantmon_v2.0 was inside the hacking rocket, he could hear Takato's friend wishing them luck. 'Thanks, but we won't need it,' thought Gallantmon_v2.0. 'We're going to beat that thing, without luck.' He roared a battle-cry, as he leapt into action and flew up towards the Juggernaut.
The virus crossed its arms again and its metallic claws began snaking their way towards Gallantmon_v2.0. Like snakes, they curved backwards before recoiling and striking like lightning. Their movements were snake-like, as quick as that of a snake's and every bit as deadly.
Gallantmon_v2.0 flew around them all though.
"I've got to hit it while the UltraBarrier is still down," he murmured, as he flew towards it. "Take this!" He fired a powerful burst of bright, white energy towards the Juggernaut Virus.
That was just as the Juggernaut uncrossed its arms and thrust its clawed hands forward. A powerful beam of black energy flew out from the Juggernaut Virus and headed straight towards Gallantmon_v2.0's beam of white energy. The two beams of energy smashed together and pulsed against each other, like two geysers of water aimed at the other.
Gallantmon_v2.0 roared and put more effort into his powerful attack. His beam of energy pulsed and grew brighter and bigger. Juggernaut did the same thing.

* * * * *

Yamaki was monitoring the Juggernaut's activity with great interest. He could sense that the Digimon, that was now fighting against his virus, was special. It was probably one of Dr. Lee's creations. 'How fitting,' thought Yamaki, as he turned to face the brown-haired youth that controlled it.
"Why do you insist on fighting against me, boy?" asked Yamaki in a condescending tone. "Do you realise that you cannot hope to win?"
"I'll continue to fight no matter what the costs," replied Takato angrily. "I won't just stand by and let you destroy this world. I won't stand here and let you ruin so many lives!"
"You mean, like Dr. Lee ruined mine?" asked Yamaki curiously. For a moment, he looked genuinely human, but that soon changed when that usual insane smile spread across his lips. "I don't think that you can stop me, boy. I'll make the world pay. You know how the saying goes, 'An eye for an eye'."
Takato then realised that it was no use reasoning with the old man. He would have to destroy Yamaki's Juggernaut Virus. 'Where are the Officials?' he wondered, as he looked behind him. 'Are they still fighting against Yamaki's security guards?'
"Gallantmon, let's destroy the Juggernaut," he said.

* * * * *

"Right," agreed Gallantmon_v2.0, as he swung his sword at the Cull viruses, slicing them in half.
The Juggernaut Virus raised the UltraBarrier again. Though it looked like some whacked out Digimon/virus hybrid, it was clear from its facial expression that it was a virus. The thing had no emotions. Its entire face was devoid of emotions. The thing uncrossed its arms and raised them into the air. There was a powerful explosion and Gallantmon_v2.0 was suddenly caught up in it.
Gallantmon_v2.0 could hear Takato cry out in pain. 'Shoot! Takato really is one with me,' realised Gallantmon_v2.0. Any pain he received would be felt by Takato. 'So that's the sacrifice he made to keep me alive?' That wasn't good. He loved Takato like a little brother. Of all the things that he didn't want, number one on his list was to see any harm come to Takato.
"Damn you, Hypnos!" he roared angrily. "If it weren't for you, Takato wouldn't have to suffer like this!" He felt angrier than before.
He saw the Juggernaut cross its arms again. 'It's going to try those metallic claws again,' thought Gallantmon_v2.0. 'Seen that.' One of the claws lunged at him. He flew out of the way. Another lunged at him and then another. He dodged one and parried the other with his sword. Mentally, he searched the D-Scanner for any Advances he could use against the Juggernaut Virus. There! That was a good one!
Quietly, Gallantmon_v2.0 selected the Advances he needed and started building up a combo. All he had to do for the time being, was to avoid being deleted by the Juggernaut Virus.
"Don't you worry, Takato, I'll save your world," he murmured. "I won't let this maniac and his virus destroy it!"
One metallic claw lunged at him, but it never reached him. A furry blur rushed at it and pinned the claw down. Several more digital blurs rushed towards the Juggernaut and pinned down its extended claws. The chains that kept the claws attached to the Juggernaut were stretched. The remaining claws lashed out at the Digimon that dared to pin their mates down. The rest were shot to pieces by powerful missiles.
"MegaGargomon?" exclaimed Gallantmon_v2.0 in surprise. "Cyberdramon? Dobermon? Rena?"
"What? Did you really think that we'd stay out cold for long?" asked Rena with a smile on her face.
"Go and take out the Juggernaut Virus, Gallantmon!" urged MegaGargomon.
"Yeah," agreed Cyberdramon.
"We're behind you one hundred percent," Dobermon told Gallantmon_v2.0.
A smile spread across Gallantmon_v2.0's lips. His Digimon friends were counting on him too. Well, that was fine by him.
"All right, Juggernaut, time for a taste of my wrath!" he shouted. He put all his Advances in order and they merged. Their digital data intermingled until there was only one Advance left. "DigiModify- UltraSword activate!" A powerful sword appeared in his hands. It was so large, he had to hold it with both hands.
Juggernaut roared and uncrossed its arms, thrusting its clawed hands out in front of it. The Virus fired a powerful beam of dark energy once again. This time, Gallantmon_v2.0 flew straight over the Darkness Zone attack. Gallantmon_v2.0 raised the UltraSword above his head. He then brought it crashing down towards the virus and fell down to the floor, the UltraSword cleaving through the Juggernaut Virus.
The UltraBarrier disappeared and the Juggernaut Virus clutched at its body, before a split appeared down its forehead and its torso and the dodecahedron that made up its lower body. The Juggernaut Virus was on its very last legs. With a final dying breath, if such a thing was possible, the Juggernaut Virus split into two halves and then exploded.

* * * * *

"No, my baby!" screamed Yamaki in disbelief. "What have you done to my beautiful creation?"
An alarm blared through the compound.
"Warning! Virus overload!" warned an automatic voice. "Virus overload! Vir... Xqwelpdgkuhsder..." The voice suddenly faded into a hissing crackle and was no more. The alarm conked out too.
One of the rocket engines exploded and the entire place began shaking violently. Dust and small bits of plaster began to fall from the ceiling, as cracks appeared in the wall around them. The Hypnos Base was falling apart and it seemed as if it would collapse or even explode around them.
Takato quickly pulled his D-Scanner out of its port.
"You okay, Gallantmon?" he asked his Digimon.
"Yeah," replied Gallantmon_v2.0. "How about you?"
"There's no time for that!" cried Ruki, as she grabbed Takato by the arm. "Let's get out of here while we still can."
Jenrya looked back at Dr. Yamaki.
"Not without Yamaki, we don't," he protested, as he ran straight back towards the old man. A huge metallic girder suddenly fell and blocked his way, however. He wanted to get past, but more started piling up in front of him. Through the dust, he could clearly see Yamaki laughing insanely. The old man didn't seem to be moving from his position.
"Do you really think that you've defeated me?" laughed Yamaki insanely. "I've still got my Hypnos Organisation!" He laughed out more insanely than before. It was clear that he had lost it completely. "Can't you see? Hypnos is forever! Soon, it will just be me and Hypnos, celebrating our victory!"
Ryo rushed back and grabbed Jenrya by the arm, pulling the blue-haired youth back.
"Come on!" he called out.
"But what about Yamaki?" protested Jenrya.
"Forget him!" shouted Ryo, before he pulled his lover back.
"I'll be back!" laughed Yamaki. "Don't think I won't be back, coz I will! I'll be back and you'll all be sorry!" He descended into a fit of insane laughter. "Hypnos Forever!" There was suddenly a large explosion and the Hypnos Base was completely destroyed.

* * * * *

There was suddenly a large explosion and the cloaked Digimon looked behind him. A smile spread across his pale face, as he clutched at the spherical data packet in his black, clawed hands. The Digimon, who floated above the path, turned round.
"So, Hypnos failed in destroying the humans, eh?" he chuckled, as he absorbed the data packet. "Well, that's all right. I can do it myself. Who needs those Hypnos jerks, anyway?" His fanged smile widened. "I'll destroy the weak, worthless humans all by myself!" He laughed and his evil laughter echoed all around him and through the remnants of the Dark Ocean.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Ryo digitally transferred the money to the cashier. All money was digital, since everybody had a D-Scanner. There was no need for credits cards or for cheques or for anything else. Transfer the money from your personal daily use (PDU) account from your D-Scanner or don't buy anything at all.
Working part-time in an upmarket café downtown had been a great idea. Ryo had been raking in money ever since he left the Devas. After the Juggernaut incident, he had decided quite firmly that the life of a Deva wasn't for him. It was for Jenrya, Ruki and Takato, but not for him. It wasn't for Alice, either. If he remembered correctly, she had started working in the Modify Chip Shop that Takato's father ran. Last he heard, she was doing well too.
"Hey, Ryo!"
A frown spread across the brown-haired youth's face. He turned round and saw someone standing outside near the outside tables.
"Takato! Hi, there!" he greeted, as he walked over to his friend. "How have you been?"
"Great, thanks," replied Takato, as Ryo guided him over to a table. "So, everything okay here?"
"Everything's fine," replied Ryo. He knew there was no need for Takato to ask how Jenrya was, since the two saw each other at school almost every other day. "You can't believe how good business has been lately, especially since the last of those DarkNet viruses were flushed out of the normal networks." He sighed. "The usual?"
Takato nodded.
"Yes, please," he replied.
"I'll be back in a sec," replied Ryo, before he darted off.
'Well, Hypnos is gone,' thought Takato. Though they never recovered Dr. Yamaki's body, charred or otherwise, Takato was sure that they had all seen the last of Hypnos. It was one week after the Hypnos Base had been destroyed. Takato was now making a living out of being a Deva. This time, he always made sure that he had a back-up copy of Gallantmon in his D-Scanner, just in case. There was, after all, no point in being unprepared.
Takato mused about the entire ordeal. It had been harrowing. It had been life-threatening. However, in some strange and twisted way, he had kind of enjoyed it. The Hypnos incident had helped him grow up and really get to terms with his being a man.
"Gallantmon, do you ever wonder what this world would be like if Yamaki's research had been chosen instead of Dr. Lee's?" he asked his Digimon.
"Don't talk about that, Takato," protested Gallantmon. His D- Scanner (Takato's D-Scanner?) sat on the formica table in front of Takato. The lid was open and on the tiny screen was Gallantmon's face. He had reverted back from Gallantmon_v2.0 to Gallantmon and was no longer 100% in synch with his young Operator. "If his project had been chosen, I wouldn't be here with you."
"Perhaps," mused Takato, "or perhaps you would be physically here with me." A real live Digimon that you could touch and feed and play with. Now that would have been fun. "Well, I wouldn't give this up for the entire world," he told Gallantmon. "I wouldn't want anything to change at all."

To be continued...