Tamed Instincts
Part Two: Hidden Pasts in the Digital World? I Forget.
Chapter Two: Beast of the Millennium.
Akane slaps Ryo on the back of his head.
"Why do you torment me so, sister from hell?" moans Ryo.
"It's my job." Akane grins. "Struggle. Suffer. It will avail you not."
"Stay out of Dad's Blue Seed tapes."
A squeal of delight emanates from the kitchen.
"Ryo!" Yohko throws the door open. "Do? You? Know? Who? Is? On? The? Phone?"
"No. Could you take a few deep breaths, then tell me?" asks Ryo placidly.
"You've been in your digiworld so long that you're out of it. The one and only Ichijouji Ken is on the phone!" Yohko enters a few seizures of happiness.
"What? Can I speak to him? It's urgent."
"He did ask to speak to you...why didn't you get his autograph?"
"Hadn't seen him in years. Never knew he was famous."
"Figures." Yohko rolls her eyes. "Pickup over there."
"I don't want you two listening in," says Ryo. "This is a private call."
Yohko pouts, but complies. Akane gives Ryo a raspberry.
==
"I can't believe I still have fans...yes, I'm still playing chess and soccer. Soccer's so much damn fun...with everything that's gone on with me in the past three years, I've had to scale back...I don't know what I want to do when I grow up now...the SDF-I don't want to be in another military operation.
"Hell, I still don't know if I'm in on this one...Ryo, you're the soldier boy on this...ten...hut-alright, that was uncalled for. I just don't know how I can do anything except slow you down...that's right, Miyako would have to get past my parents...face my fears?
"Baka! You don't have the slighest idea what my fears are; you can't possibly assuage them...now you expect me to trust you based on fractured memories of a tenuous alliance. Good day, Ryo."
Ken hangs up.
==
At least we're on a first-name basis again. We're making progress.
However, I can't pretend that we have any chance to win without him. I mean, you don't just leave a Tamer First Class out of a war effort.
Can't blame him for not trusting me, though. It's my fault that his memory's screwed in the first place. Not by any action, but by inaction.
- - - -
"Zeromaru." Ryo salutes.
"Taishou." Zero does likewise.
"Wormmon, I see that you're here."
"Yes, Ryo; how was your--*"
"You're late." Cutting Wormmon off is a dark-haired nine-year old with a sober expression on his face. He wears a pale gray shirt, a black leather jacket, and khakis.
Ryo eyes the boy a moment. "Ken?"
"Tamer First Class, reporting for duty, sir."
"First class already?"
Ken answers this by a quick crack of his whip, near Ryo's neck.
"Why'd you do that?" hisses Ryo, rubbing the whip mark.
"You shouldn't have flinched. I had to kill that scorpion on your neck."
"Oh." Ryo looks on the desert surface, noting the scorpion cracked in half.
"Request debriefing."
- - -
Our mission, of course, would have been unnecessary six months back. At least now Ken's taking this seriously. Somehow, though, I'm worried about him.
"Ken, I don't want any conflicts, external or internal, interfering with the mission." I'm sensing the internal conflict, and it seems to be brutal. "Having said that, is there a problem? You're not quite yourself."
"My brother is gone. My parents and I miss him a great deal. The whole situation has dampened my enthusiasm. Thus, I'd like to remain focused on the task at hand."
So Osamu went to an international genius school, I guess. His parents sound like the doting type, so they're worrying too much about his Oniisan. Ken being the classic otoutousan, misses him too.
- -
All I want. All I want right now is to be numb. Numb to pain, numb to anger, numb to life. Life sucks, and it makes no sense to me anymore.
But the closest I have to that is the problem of defeating Millenniumon. Thinking on a difficult problem really settles me; sadly, I didn't bring any chess or any of Osamu's old math books to work on. The only reason I'm here is because I don't have to worry about Osamu coming back.
Oniisan should come back. I should be dead, and he should be alive. That's the only way anything makes sense to me. Osamu is dead, numb to the world.
I want to be numb like him. It's all I want.
However, solving this problem is the only objective I have right now.
"Ken." Zero looks at me, scowling.
"Yes, what is it?" I look up from my Handbook. It has data on all known digimon, along with tried combat strategies-including some from the electronic and card games.
"Get your nose out of the Handbook for a second. Grab some food. A real Tamer is disciplined in mind and body. And that means you've got to eat."
"I'm not hungry."
"Eat anyway."
"I...said...." I'm starting to glare at him, when I see the whimsical image of Wormmon with a plate of rice and beef teriyaki on his back.
He crawls toward me, finally resting on my lap. "Please eat, Ken." Wormmon gives me a pleading look, as though I suddenly became fragile.
Worm-chan worries too much. Smelling that food, though, my stomach makes me recant my previous negation about being hungry. That, and if I don't eat my plate soon, Zero will eat it and me. That digimon has a black hole in his stomach.
I take up my chopsticks and eat.
"Ken, you have any ideas on Millenniumon?" asks Ryo.
"Yes. Normally, we wouldn't be able to fight him," I continue, "because even combined, our digimon don't have the needed power or battle experience.
"However, there is a method of digivolution that can bypass that process."
"I've considered armor evolutions," muses Ryo, "but that only switches Zero and Wormmon to alternate champion modes. If we can find a Golden Digimental, that would boost them to Ultimate stage.
"However, it's still not strong enough to defeat a Mega at Millenniumon's level. Besides, Wormmon has to have armor evolved once, and that requires a home crest."
Like the one I have around my neck. The Crest of Kindness. "Not sure about that one. First, we'd have to launch a search for the corresponding Digimental. Then, Wormmon would armor evolve into Puttimon, who works best as a healer-type. The only way Puttimon could have attack capabilities is if he goes viral. That would be Impmon."
My guess is that Ryo's thinking of that last battle we had with a gang of Impmon. They were just playing a bunch of practical jokes-while hurling stupid little fireballs at us. Zero went a bit overboard, but they messed with his food.
"I doubt your idea was Digimental-based."
"No; There's a process called joint-progress evolution, jogress for short. It was used once before in the Diaboromon battle."
"Omnimon. Go on."
"Two jogress patterns emerge for our team, because we'd be a normal jogress, like Millenniumon. Zero acts as a base level, for example, while Wormmon acts as the crest break factor to push the Zero to his natural Ultimate.
"Omnimon was a Mega, jogressed from two Megas."
"Omnimon was a special case; neither digimon involved was a base level for him."
"Hang on a second; I don't need any help breaking to Ultimate," starts Zero.
He misunderstands. "I'm not talking about your normal dramon line; I'm using your ancient dramon line," I explain.
"You mean my alternate line? Forget about it. Your Wormmon would have to reach champion to do it anyway."
"I can reach champion now," says Wormmon. "Right now, though, I can only do it if Ken's in real danger."
"That's great," I smile. I haven't forgotten our battle last time with that Devidramon. It was no fun finding out Wormmon didn't have the power needed to digivolve. He said that he needed my help to do it, but I don't know how.
"Just forget the jogress crap, kid," grunts Zero. "It's just a bad idea."
"Given our resources," I hiss, "it's the best option we have."
Wormmon stares blankly at the two of us. Zero and I look at Ryo.
Ryo sighs. "Here's the game plan. We meet with the other digimon who agreed to fight with us tomorrow morning, at the area where we expect Millenniumon to attack next.
"We launch everything we've got at Millenniumon."
"Fine, no problem. As long as we don't jogress," says Zero.
"We can't make you any promises, Zero," Ryo scowls.
"Bah; we won't need to jogress. I hit Gold, and it's bye-bye, Millie-chan."
"I hope so," says Wormmon. I pet his head.
- - -
What's with Zero? He should know better than to behave irrationally like that. Why is he acting like a freshie?
On the other hand, Ken's a lot more intense than he used to be. The kid's training and studying like it's all that life has left to offer him.
We've met the other digimon, but I was expecting a larger group. The leader of each troop explains that most of them defected to the Saiba unit; like I have any idea what the hell that means. Zero isn't too happy about that either.
We all have to stay calm and focused if we're going to win this. I step over to Zero.
"Time to chat, field marshal." I fold my arms and give Zero my "I won't accept no as an answer" look.
Zero grunts. He's not the type to sigh. "What, you want me to jogress?"
Always to the point, that Zero. "Just tell me your problems with it."
"Too many problems with it. Yeah, if the two digimon can pull it off, we've got a new ace up our sleeve. But I just don't like the idea of having my and the worm's data scrambled to the point where I can't tell the difference between him and me.
"And then, there's the booster evolution to Mega. That's Ken's idea in a nutshell. There's no way any pair of digimon can be expected to wield that kind of power without going skull. You've heard of Skullgreymon?"
"Yes." I thought of reports from digimon on Server about a digidestined's Greymon becoming a free viral. The kid apparently had only a tenuous bond with the digimon at the time.
"He's nothing," Zero snorts. "The base digimon will probably clutch onto just enough self-control to go berserk. Not a problem with, say, a Platinum Sukamon; but an Imperialdramon can destroy the digital world inside of two days."
"On the upside, that's probably the power level we need to wipe out Millenniumon," I note.
"A jogress would just do more harm than good. It won't be needed anyway. I can do this on my own. I know I can."
"How do you know that it won't work? It's not like you've given it a try.... Did you?"
Giving a short nod, Zero grunts. "Bad experience. My identity was stripped away, and the monster Imperialdramon was born from the ashes."
"I see." I guess his last Tamer didn't know what he was doing.
After taking a deep breath, I look at Zeromaru. "Understand, Zero, that we're at war, and we'll use every available option if we have to. Millenniumon must be obliterated.
"On that note, I'll consider jogress evolution as a final resort option."
"Don't you think you should do a bit more research?" asks Ken quietly, from his position on a nearby monolith. I didn't know he could hear us from where he was.
"Other than what you yourself reported and general understanding, we have no idea how the jogress works. Therefore, unless we have no other choice, I'm not willing to jeopardize soldiers' lives and sanity in a high-risk battle tactic."
"I understand. I just don't think we have another option."
"Between the two of us, we'll find one." I give Ken a smile. Sometimes I wonder if he forgot how.
- - - -
"Come back here!" Ken cries, chasing after a fleeing Airdramon.
"They're abandoning us!" Ryo kicks the sand in frustration.
Wormmon watches the horror unfold. "Why?" he asks. "Why did they leave us to die?"
"We won't die," shout Ken and Zero in unison, "so shut up!"
"We'll switch tag command for a bit," says Ryo.
** If I could only digivolve..." Wormmon muses. ** Ken's in a lot of danger, yet I can't unlock all of this energy I have. I should be able to reach champion. *
Millenniumon continues his attack on the four heroes.
"Let's use the Death card, Zero." Ken looks grim, not a good look for a boy of nine.
"Roger, kid-because it's time for him to die!"
Ken card slashes the Death card, boosting Zero's attack power; it has no effect.
"Wormmon, we need to immobilize Millenniumon first. Ken, Silk Touchdown!"
"Haven't used that one in a while." Ken gives a small grin, remembering the time they tripped a Kuwagamon with that maneuver.
"Zero, keep on fighting." Ken dashes away, catches Wormmon, and starts running in circles around Millenniumon's feet, unnoticed by the beast.
Ryo takes out the Walther Shot, setting up his cards.
"Okay, Wormmon; you can stop now." As soon as Wormmon breaks off his Silk Thread, Ken slaps Millenniumon on the tail with his whip.
The monster roars, loses his balance, and crashes to the ground.
"Alright! Zero," says Ken, "revert and switch to your ancient dramon mode. We need Exveemon."
Zero lands, still in his Aeroveedramon Special mode. "For what?"
"For the jogress. This is our chance to take Millenniumon out."
"No."
"No? What the hell do you mean by 'no'? This isn't some stupid Tonosama we're fighting-we don't have time to play around."
"We don't need to jogress to beat him. One shot from Ryo and a Skull Bash from me should finish him off."
"You don't understand. That thing is evil. None of our powers alone are going to beat him. If I didn't know better, I'd think he was counting on us killing him.
"We have to vaporize his data. He has to be erased from memory. That takes positron energy, Zero, and guess which digimon has that?"
"Kid, are you going to trust the manual or me?" growls Zero. "I've been fighting a lot longer than the three of you combined. Jogress is bad. It can't work!"
"Diaboromon was defeated, so how'd it work for Omnimon? Why is it in the manual?"
"Quit arguing! Ken, forcing him to jogress won't work for sure. Your hearts have to possess the same goal." Ryo sighs in exasperation. "Zero, don't be such a baby. Hit Gold, and the three of us will boost you. We'll use a double slash. My Imperialdramon card with the Sun card, and your Gran Kuwagamon card with the Moon card. Got it?"
"It won't be enough."
"Ken, please believe in me." Zero stares at the nine-year old earnestly.
"I don't want to force you to jogress," sighs Ken in resignation.
Zeromaru goes Gold, while Ken and Ryo use the double slash.
Zero's attack connects the instant Millenniumon breaks free, and the beast shatters into millions of black dots.
"We did it." A deep smile of satisfaction and relief graces Ryo's face.
"Yes, looks like we beat him," adds Ken, a note of uncertainty in his voice.
Zero lands again. "See, kid? We didn't need it after all. Nothing can stand for long against the mightiest of the Victory Dramon!"
Ken gives the blue dragon a weak smile, unable to shake his intuition.
"Or his thick skull," quips Ryo, rolling his eyes.
"You're telling a joke?" This is news to Wormmon.
"I can't wait to head home, now that this is all over. Millenniumon is defeated."
"Guys, I'm not so sure," says Ken.
"His remains are all over the landscape. What's not to be sure about?"
"Do remnants of digimon signals normally linger after they're killed?"
"No, now that you mention it; then again, Millennium was a huge digimon," says Zero. "It's just taking a while longer for all the residual data to collect."
** Why do I feel that there's still something wrong? Like Millenniumon is still here?
** I can't shake this feeling. It's all over the place, like these dots all over the desert. Why can't the others feel it? *
Ken then notices one of the dots shooting towards Ryo. He pushes Ryo out of the way, but is unable to evade the dark bullet himself.
The dark fragment embeds itself in Ken's neck.
"Ken, what was that for?" shouts Ryo, he and the others unaware that Millenniumon's residual data coalesces.
Then Ken screams, crying in mortal agony. His thin body writhes in pain that Ryo could not comprehend.
"What's happening to him? Ken, are you okay?"
"He will be; but I mustn't let you interfere." The white-cloaked visitor to the last battle, Gen, appears again. "The darkness prepares the boy for its purposes in the digital world."
"I don't understand."
"The darkness has been calling Ken for some time now. We are bringing him home.
"Let me care for him now."
"The hell I will!" Ryo aims the Walther Shot at Gen.
"You can't fire at me. I'm a fellow human."
"Then show yourself, freak."
"That will happen in a time of my discretion. Ken fights too much, but he won't last forever. The darkness will claim him."
"We have to stop it," cries Wormmon.
"I think you have more pressing matters," smiles Gen.
"Stay away from him." The caterpillar moves protectively in front of his partner.
"Fool. When the darkness takes him, he won't have any use for you."
"I'll always protect him. Nobody can take Ken's heart, ever."
"Millenniumon's not deleted...he's...reformatting!" Zero whips around.
"Into what?" asks Ryo.
"Something too powerful to imagine. Not since Arcademon has the digital world been in more danger.
"The kid was right!" Zero roars.
"Then we have to get rid of Millenniumon now, while he's still reformatting." Ryo uses a Gate card and an Angewomon card to open the Gate of Destiny, but the dark mass merely shuts it.
Wormmon still stands between Gen and Ken, in a deadly face off.
"Isn't it sad that you're too weak to digivolve?" smiles the ghostly figure.
"I should be able to...I have the energy!" Wormmon begins to sob.
"My Wonder Swan detects Victory Tamer Tama units nearby," says Ryo. "T3s."
"No! It's you!" Zero snarls in absolute rage. "Curse you; I should have known!
"Time to rectify at least one mistake!" Zero charges after Gen, but the youth leaps away, leaving his cloak and mask.
Gen alights on the head of an Airdramon. The one that had deserted the team earlier in the battle.
"Traitor! You were on his side all along!" roars Zero.
"I had no choice, Zeromaru," moans the Airdramon. "He found the main Primary Village at the southern continent. Even Zhuqiaomon was no match for the Saiba forces."
"The digital barriers are still weak. Gennai hasn't been able to get the Eight to seal away the powers of darkness."
"Yes; you were their pitiful last line of defense. Don't worry," smiles Gen, "we'll make better use of Ken than you could."
"You won't touch him!" screams Wormmon, as fiercely as his rookie form would allow.
"It is too late. The darkness has already begun to touch him. In every place imaginable."
"Leave him alone!"
"Submit to your fate, little worm."
** All that power from Wormmon, but it's not going anywhere. * Ryo notes Gen's malevolent presence. ** He's blocked because of Gen's T3s. *
"Wormmon," cries Ryo aloud, "don't give up! We can't destroy Millenniumon now, but we can seal him.
"Shoot me a Net!"
Wormmon fires a Sticky Net at Ryo's Blue card.
"Card slash! Silk charge. Chrysalis Shot." Ryo fires at the reformatting Millenniumon. "Hell Pressure Seal!"
This traps Millenniumon inside a massive black crystal, like a bug in amber.
"As long as he's in the digital world, he'll be able to break free," muses Gen. "Let me help you out."
Using a T3, Gen opens a portal to another world, which looked like all the color was washed out.
"Electromagnetism. Opposite polarities attract, but like polarities repel. The repulsion should keep him sealed."
Gen pushes the now inert crystal lightly; it floats into the shadow world.
"I doubt you helped us at all," grimaces Ryo.
"Merely giving you a chance to kiss the world good bye, Akiyama Ryo. He shall be reborn into Moon=Millenniumon. In the meantime, my lord Dagomon shall watch him."
Ken is as still as death. Ryo rushes to the child, checking for his pulse.
** I can barely feel it. It's faint, but steady. * "What's your name, kisama?" hisses Ryo.
"Saiba Neo. Give a kiss to Taichi for me, will you, Zero?" Laughing, the now-revealed Neo Saiba flies away atop Airdramon.
==
Ever since then, I stayed in the digital world. Ken had awakened, and went home without a word to anyone. I left Wormmon back in Primary Eastern.
I headed out to learn as much as I could about the digital world. Zero...stuck around with me. We weren't supposed to form attachments, and we didn't. At the same time, I never minded him being around. His experience really helped us out of scrapes, and we ended up on the war front for five years.
It was supposed to be a one-month mission. I failed you, Ken. I'm sorry.
Part Two: Hidden Pasts in the Digital World? I Forget.
Chapter Two: Beast of the Millennium.
Akane slaps Ryo on the back of his head.
"Why do you torment me so, sister from hell?" moans Ryo.
"It's my job." Akane grins. "Struggle. Suffer. It will avail you not."
"Stay out of Dad's Blue Seed tapes."
A squeal of delight emanates from the kitchen.
"Ryo!" Yohko throws the door open. "Do? You? Know? Who? Is? On? The? Phone?"
"No. Could you take a few deep breaths, then tell me?" asks Ryo placidly.
"You've been in your digiworld so long that you're out of it. The one and only Ichijouji Ken is on the phone!" Yohko enters a few seizures of happiness.
"What? Can I speak to him? It's urgent."
"He did ask to speak to you...why didn't you get his autograph?"
"Hadn't seen him in years. Never knew he was famous."
"Figures." Yohko rolls her eyes. "Pickup over there."
"I don't want you two listening in," says Ryo. "This is a private call."
Yohko pouts, but complies. Akane gives Ryo a raspberry.
==
"I can't believe I still have fans...yes, I'm still playing chess and soccer. Soccer's so much damn fun...with everything that's gone on with me in the past three years, I've had to scale back...I don't know what I want to do when I grow up now...the SDF-I don't want to be in another military operation.
"Hell, I still don't know if I'm in on this one...Ryo, you're the soldier boy on this...ten...hut-alright, that was uncalled for. I just don't know how I can do anything except slow you down...that's right, Miyako would have to get past my parents...face my fears?
"Baka! You don't have the slighest idea what my fears are; you can't possibly assuage them...now you expect me to trust you based on fractured memories of a tenuous alliance. Good day, Ryo."
Ken hangs up.
==
At least we're on a first-name basis again. We're making progress.
However, I can't pretend that we have any chance to win without him. I mean, you don't just leave a Tamer First Class out of a war effort.
Can't blame him for not trusting me, though. It's my fault that his memory's screwed in the first place. Not by any action, but by inaction.
- - - -
"Zeromaru." Ryo salutes.
"Taishou." Zero does likewise.
"Wormmon, I see that you're here."
"Yes, Ryo; how was your--*"
"You're late." Cutting Wormmon off is a dark-haired nine-year old with a sober expression on his face. He wears a pale gray shirt, a black leather jacket, and khakis.
Ryo eyes the boy a moment. "Ken?"
"Tamer First Class, reporting for duty, sir."
"First class already?"
Ken answers this by a quick crack of his whip, near Ryo's neck.
"Why'd you do that?" hisses Ryo, rubbing the whip mark.
"You shouldn't have flinched. I had to kill that scorpion on your neck."
"Oh." Ryo looks on the desert surface, noting the scorpion cracked in half.
"Request debriefing."
- - -
Our mission, of course, would have been unnecessary six months back. At least now Ken's taking this seriously. Somehow, though, I'm worried about him.
"Ken, I don't want any conflicts, external or internal, interfering with the mission." I'm sensing the internal conflict, and it seems to be brutal. "Having said that, is there a problem? You're not quite yourself."
"My brother is gone. My parents and I miss him a great deal. The whole situation has dampened my enthusiasm. Thus, I'd like to remain focused on the task at hand."
So Osamu went to an international genius school, I guess. His parents sound like the doting type, so they're worrying too much about his Oniisan. Ken being the classic otoutousan, misses him too.
- -
All I want. All I want right now is to be numb. Numb to pain, numb to anger, numb to life. Life sucks, and it makes no sense to me anymore.
But the closest I have to that is the problem of defeating Millenniumon. Thinking on a difficult problem really settles me; sadly, I didn't bring any chess or any of Osamu's old math books to work on. The only reason I'm here is because I don't have to worry about Osamu coming back.
Oniisan should come back. I should be dead, and he should be alive. That's the only way anything makes sense to me. Osamu is dead, numb to the world.
I want to be numb like him. It's all I want.
However, solving this problem is the only objective I have right now.
"Ken." Zero looks at me, scowling.
"Yes, what is it?" I look up from my Handbook. It has data on all known digimon, along with tried combat strategies-including some from the electronic and card games.
"Get your nose out of the Handbook for a second. Grab some food. A real Tamer is disciplined in mind and body. And that means you've got to eat."
"I'm not hungry."
"Eat anyway."
"I...said...." I'm starting to glare at him, when I see the whimsical image of Wormmon with a plate of rice and beef teriyaki on his back.
He crawls toward me, finally resting on my lap. "Please eat, Ken." Wormmon gives me a pleading look, as though I suddenly became fragile.
Worm-chan worries too much. Smelling that food, though, my stomach makes me recant my previous negation about being hungry. That, and if I don't eat my plate soon, Zero will eat it and me. That digimon has a black hole in his stomach.
I take up my chopsticks and eat.
"Ken, you have any ideas on Millenniumon?" asks Ryo.
"Yes. Normally, we wouldn't be able to fight him," I continue, "because even combined, our digimon don't have the needed power or battle experience.
"However, there is a method of digivolution that can bypass that process."
"I've considered armor evolutions," muses Ryo, "but that only switches Zero and Wormmon to alternate champion modes. If we can find a Golden Digimental, that would boost them to Ultimate stage.
"However, it's still not strong enough to defeat a Mega at Millenniumon's level. Besides, Wormmon has to have armor evolved once, and that requires a home crest."
Like the one I have around my neck. The Crest of Kindness. "Not sure about that one. First, we'd have to launch a search for the corresponding Digimental. Then, Wormmon would armor evolve into Puttimon, who works best as a healer-type. The only way Puttimon could have attack capabilities is if he goes viral. That would be Impmon."
My guess is that Ryo's thinking of that last battle we had with a gang of Impmon. They were just playing a bunch of practical jokes-while hurling stupid little fireballs at us. Zero went a bit overboard, but they messed with his food.
"I doubt your idea was Digimental-based."
"No; There's a process called joint-progress evolution, jogress for short. It was used once before in the Diaboromon battle."
"Omnimon. Go on."
"Two jogress patterns emerge for our team, because we'd be a normal jogress, like Millenniumon. Zero acts as a base level, for example, while Wormmon acts as the crest break factor to push the Zero to his natural Ultimate.
"Omnimon was a Mega, jogressed from two Megas."
"Omnimon was a special case; neither digimon involved was a base level for him."
"Hang on a second; I don't need any help breaking to Ultimate," starts Zero.
He misunderstands. "I'm not talking about your normal dramon line; I'm using your ancient dramon line," I explain.
"You mean my alternate line? Forget about it. Your Wormmon would have to reach champion to do it anyway."
"I can reach champion now," says Wormmon. "Right now, though, I can only do it if Ken's in real danger."
"That's great," I smile. I haven't forgotten our battle last time with that Devidramon. It was no fun finding out Wormmon didn't have the power needed to digivolve. He said that he needed my help to do it, but I don't know how.
"Just forget the jogress crap, kid," grunts Zero. "It's just a bad idea."
"Given our resources," I hiss, "it's the best option we have."
Wormmon stares blankly at the two of us. Zero and I look at Ryo.
Ryo sighs. "Here's the game plan. We meet with the other digimon who agreed to fight with us tomorrow morning, at the area where we expect Millenniumon to attack next.
"We launch everything we've got at Millenniumon."
"Fine, no problem. As long as we don't jogress," says Zero.
"We can't make you any promises, Zero," Ryo scowls.
"Bah; we won't need to jogress. I hit Gold, and it's bye-bye, Millie-chan."
"I hope so," says Wormmon. I pet his head.
- - -
What's with Zero? He should know better than to behave irrationally like that. Why is he acting like a freshie?
On the other hand, Ken's a lot more intense than he used to be. The kid's training and studying like it's all that life has left to offer him.
We've met the other digimon, but I was expecting a larger group. The leader of each troop explains that most of them defected to the Saiba unit; like I have any idea what the hell that means. Zero isn't too happy about that either.
We all have to stay calm and focused if we're going to win this. I step over to Zero.
"Time to chat, field marshal." I fold my arms and give Zero my "I won't accept no as an answer" look.
Zero grunts. He's not the type to sigh. "What, you want me to jogress?"
Always to the point, that Zero. "Just tell me your problems with it."
"Too many problems with it. Yeah, if the two digimon can pull it off, we've got a new ace up our sleeve. But I just don't like the idea of having my and the worm's data scrambled to the point where I can't tell the difference between him and me.
"And then, there's the booster evolution to Mega. That's Ken's idea in a nutshell. There's no way any pair of digimon can be expected to wield that kind of power without going skull. You've heard of Skullgreymon?"
"Yes." I thought of reports from digimon on Server about a digidestined's Greymon becoming a free viral. The kid apparently had only a tenuous bond with the digimon at the time.
"He's nothing," Zero snorts. "The base digimon will probably clutch onto just enough self-control to go berserk. Not a problem with, say, a Platinum Sukamon; but an Imperialdramon can destroy the digital world inside of two days."
"On the upside, that's probably the power level we need to wipe out Millenniumon," I note.
"A jogress would just do more harm than good. It won't be needed anyway. I can do this on my own. I know I can."
"How do you know that it won't work? It's not like you've given it a try.... Did you?"
Giving a short nod, Zero grunts. "Bad experience. My identity was stripped away, and the monster Imperialdramon was born from the ashes."
"I see." I guess his last Tamer didn't know what he was doing.
After taking a deep breath, I look at Zeromaru. "Understand, Zero, that we're at war, and we'll use every available option if we have to. Millenniumon must be obliterated.
"On that note, I'll consider jogress evolution as a final resort option."
"Don't you think you should do a bit more research?" asks Ken quietly, from his position on a nearby monolith. I didn't know he could hear us from where he was.
"Other than what you yourself reported and general understanding, we have no idea how the jogress works. Therefore, unless we have no other choice, I'm not willing to jeopardize soldiers' lives and sanity in a high-risk battle tactic."
"I understand. I just don't think we have another option."
"Between the two of us, we'll find one." I give Ken a smile. Sometimes I wonder if he forgot how.
- - - -
"Come back here!" Ken cries, chasing after a fleeing Airdramon.
"They're abandoning us!" Ryo kicks the sand in frustration.
Wormmon watches the horror unfold. "Why?" he asks. "Why did they leave us to die?"
"We won't die," shout Ken and Zero in unison, "so shut up!"
"We'll switch tag command for a bit," says Ryo.
** If I could only digivolve..." Wormmon muses. ** Ken's in a lot of danger, yet I can't unlock all of this energy I have. I should be able to reach champion. *
Millenniumon continues his attack on the four heroes.
"Let's use the Death card, Zero." Ken looks grim, not a good look for a boy of nine.
"Roger, kid-because it's time for him to die!"
Ken card slashes the Death card, boosting Zero's attack power; it has no effect.
"Wormmon, we need to immobilize Millenniumon first. Ken, Silk Touchdown!"
"Haven't used that one in a while." Ken gives a small grin, remembering the time they tripped a Kuwagamon with that maneuver.
"Zero, keep on fighting." Ken dashes away, catches Wormmon, and starts running in circles around Millenniumon's feet, unnoticed by the beast.
Ryo takes out the Walther Shot, setting up his cards.
"Okay, Wormmon; you can stop now." As soon as Wormmon breaks off his Silk Thread, Ken slaps Millenniumon on the tail with his whip.
The monster roars, loses his balance, and crashes to the ground.
"Alright! Zero," says Ken, "revert and switch to your ancient dramon mode. We need Exveemon."
Zero lands, still in his Aeroveedramon Special mode. "For what?"
"For the jogress. This is our chance to take Millenniumon out."
"No."
"No? What the hell do you mean by 'no'? This isn't some stupid Tonosama we're fighting-we don't have time to play around."
"We don't need to jogress to beat him. One shot from Ryo and a Skull Bash from me should finish him off."
"You don't understand. That thing is evil. None of our powers alone are going to beat him. If I didn't know better, I'd think he was counting on us killing him.
"We have to vaporize his data. He has to be erased from memory. That takes positron energy, Zero, and guess which digimon has that?"
"Kid, are you going to trust the manual or me?" growls Zero. "I've been fighting a lot longer than the three of you combined. Jogress is bad. It can't work!"
"Diaboromon was defeated, so how'd it work for Omnimon? Why is it in the manual?"
"Quit arguing! Ken, forcing him to jogress won't work for sure. Your hearts have to possess the same goal." Ryo sighs in exasperation. "Zero, don't be such a baby. Hit Gold, and the three of us will boost you. We'll use a double slash. My Imperialdramon card with the Sun card, and your Gran Kuwagamon card with the Moon card. Got it?"
"It won't be enough."
"Ken, please believe in me." Zero stares at the nine-year old earnestly.
"I don't want to force you to jogress," sighs Ken in resignation.
Zeromaru goes Gold, while Ken and Ryo use the double slash.
Zero's attack connects the instant Millenniumon breaks free, and the beast shatters into millions of black dots.
"We did it." A deep smile of satisfaction and relief graces Ryo's face.
"Yes, looks like we beat him," adds Ken, a note of uncertainty in his voice.
Zero lands again. "See, kid? We didn't need it after all. Nothing can stand for long against the mightiest of the Victory Dramon!"
Ken gives the blue dragon a weak smile, unable to shake his intuition.
"Or his thick skull," quips Ryo, rolling his eyes.
"You're telling a joke?" This is news to Wormmon.
"I can't wait to head home, now that this is all over. Millenniumon is defeated."
"Guys, I'm not so sure," says Ken.
"His remains are all over the landscape. What's not to be sure about?"
"Do remnants of digimon signals normally linger after they're killed?"
"No, now that you mention it; then again, Millennium was a huge digimon," says Zero. "It's just taking a while longer for all the residual data to collect."
** Why do I feel that there's still something wrong? Like Millenniumon is still here?
** I can't shake this feeling. It's all over the place, like these dots all over the desert. Why can't the others feel it? *
Ken then notices one of the dots shooting towards Ryo. He pushes Ryo out of the way, but is unable to evade the dark bullet himself.
The dark fragment embeds itself in Ken's neck.
"Ken, what was that for?" shouts Ryo, he and the others unaware that Millenniumon's residual data coalesces.
Then Ken screams, crying in mortal agony. His thin body writhes in pain that Ryo could not comprehend.
"What's happening to him? Ken, are you okay?"
"He will be; but I mustn't let you interfere." The white-cloaked visitor to the last battle, Gen, appears again. "The darkness prepares the boy for its purposes in the digital world."
"I don't understand."
"The darkness has been calling Ken for some time now. We are bringing him home.
"Let me care for him now."
"The hell I will!" Ryo aims the Walther Shot at Gen.
"You can't fire at me. I'm a fellow human."
"Then show yourself, freak."
"That will happen in a time of my discretion. Ken fights too much, but he won't last forever. The darkness will claim him."
"We have to stop it," cries Wormmon.
"I think you have more pressing matters," smiles Gen.
"Stay away from him." The caterpillar moves protectively in front of his partner.
"Fool. When the darkness takes him, he won't have any use for you."
"I'll always protect him. Nobody can take Ken's heart, ever."
"Millenniumon's not deleted...he's...reformatting!" Zero whips around.
"Into what?" asks Ryo.
"Something too powerful to imagine. Not since Arcademon has the digital world been in more danger.
"The kid was right!" Zero roars.
"Then we have to get rid of Millenniumon now, while he's still reformatting." Ryo uses a Gate card and an Angewomon card to open the Gate of Destiny, but the dark mass merely shuts it.
Wormmon still stands between Gen and Ken, in a deadly face off.
"Isn't it sad that you're too weak to digivolve?" smiles the ghostly figure.
"I should be able to...I have the energy!" Wormmon begins to sob.
"My Wonder Swan detects Victory Tamer Tama units nearby," says Ryo. "T3s."
"No! It's you!" Zero snarls in absolute rage. "Curse you; I should have known!
"Time to rectify at least one mistake!" Zero charges after Gen, but the youth leaps away, leaving his cloak and mask.
Gen alights on the head of an Airdramon. The one that had deserted the team earlier in the battle.
"Traitor! You were on his side all along!" roars Zero.
"I had no choice, Zeromaru," moans the Airdramon. "He found the main Primary Village at the southern continent. Even Zhuqiaomon was no match for the Saiba forces."
"The digital barriers are still weak. Gennai hasn't been able to get the Eight to seal away the powers of darkness."
"Yes; you were their pitiful last line of defense. Don't worry," smiles Gen, "we'll make better use of Ken than you could."
"You won't touch him!" screams Wormmon, as fiercely as his rookie form would allow.
"It is too late. The darkness has already begun to touch him. In every place imaginable."
"Leave him alone!"
"Submit to your fate, little worm."
** All that power from Wormmon, but it's not going anywhere. * Ryo notes Gen's malevolent presence. ** He's blocked because of Gen's T3s. *
"Wormmon," cries Ryo aloud, "don't give up! We can't destroy Millenniumon now, but we can seal him.
"Shoot me a Net!"
Wormmon fires a Sticky Net at Ryo's Blue card.
"Card slash! Silk charge. Chrysalis Shot." Ryo fires at the reformatting Millenniumon. "Hell Pressure Seal!"
This traps Millenniumon inside a massive black crystal, like a bug in amber.
"As long as he's in the digital world, he'll be able to break free," muses Gen. "Let me help you out."
Using a T3, Gen opens a portal to another world, which looked like all the color was washed out.
"Electromagnetism. Opposite polarities attract, but like polarities repel. The repulsion should keep him sealed."
Gen pushes the now inert crystal lightly; it floats into the shadow world.
"I doubt you helped us at all," grimaces Ryo.
"Merely giving you a chance to kiss the world good bye, Akiyama Ryo. He shall be reborn into Moon=Millenniumon. In the meantime, my lord Dagomon shall watch him."
Ken is as still as death. Ryo rushes to the child, checking for his pulse.
** I can barely feel it. It's faint, but steady. * "What's your name, kisama?" hisses Ryo.
"Saiba Neo. Give a kiss to Taichi for me, will you, Zero?" Laughing, the now-revealed Neo Saiba flies away atop Airdramon.
==
Ever since then, I stayed in the digital world. Ken had awakened, and went home without a word to anyone. I left Wormmon back in Primary Eastern.
I headed out to learn as much as I could about the digital world. Zero...stuck around with me. We weren't supposed to form attachments, and we didn't. At the same time, I never minded him being around. His experience really helped us out of scrapes, and we ended up on the war front for five years.
It was supposed to be a one-month mission. I failed you, Ken. I'm sorry.
