Heroes No More, Chapter Twenty-Three: A Bold Sacrifice
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The Last Day of school before Christmas Break. It's any high-school student's dream. But for Lee Trainer and his band of Chosen, it was one of the last things on their minds...
Lee, Earnest Kevin, Arik and Alex were at the hangout in their corner of the school. The four of them were crowded around the laptop, who was talking to Kevin and Earnest.
"Lee, are you sure I'm allowed to be in your school?", asked Earnest. "I don't go here..."
"No one will know. No one will care. Trust me.", replied Lee. Lee was holding Alex, who was still a little injured from yesterday's battle. Arik was keeping lookout making sure no one saw the talking laptop. That would be the last thing they need, to explain things.
Ace and Nathan came running in.
"Guys, James looks extra shifty today. He kept glaring at us.", said Nathan.
"Yeah, it was sort of spooky.", added Ace. "You have Kokuwamon handy, don't you?"
"Yeah, I brought him to school with us, because I thought he'd be safest near us.", explained Lee. (Desiree knows where I live, so I don't trust her with Kokuwamon at home. He's the only partner who hasn't been sent to the Desolate Server.)
"Where's Allison?", asked Alex. Ace and Nathan shrugged.
"She's probably still gathering supplies for our trip.", said Earnest. "She said she'd take care of it."
"Yeah, her family is a rich little pot of gold. They can afford almost anything they want.", said Lee.
"Money isn't everything...", said Alex.
"You're everything.", said Lee, holding Alex close to him.
"Geez, no sex in the lobby, okay?", joked Nathan. Alex threw her shoe at him, but he ducked and it hit Ace.
"OW!", shouted Ace, massaging his face. Alex and Lee sweat dropped.
"I think first block is about to start...", said Arik, checking his watch.
"Here. Hold onto this.", said Kevin, giving Earnest the laptop. The lot of them grabbed their bags and prepared to head off to class. Lee took Alex's hand and they were the last two to leave. He turned to Earnest and said...
"Class lasts an hour. Stay here until then, ok?", asked Lee. Earnest nodded. Lee and Alex left, leaving Earnest alone. He sat down and opened the laptop.
"Laptop, can you locate Leila for me?", asked Earnest.
{OF COURSE.}
{LEILA IS IN DESOLATE SERVER, CONTAINMENT CAMP C.}
"Is that where we're going to teleport to when we head to the Desolate Server?", asked Earnest.
{ALAS, NO. WE WILL BE STRIKING CONTAINMENT CAMP B FIRST.}
"Oh well... thanks.", said Earnest, closing the laptop. He held it under his arm and decided to take a short stroll, after all, schools fascinated him. Since he had never been to one before.
He got up and left, James peered around the corner and looked at him.
"There's the Laptop...", muttered James. "If I don't get that back for Desiree... I'll be... toast."
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Lee and Kevin entered English class and threw their bags by their desks. They went over to see Allison, who was already in class.
"Allison, did you get everything?", asked Lee.
"Yup. It's mostly food, but I got some other basic stuff too.", said Allison, holding up bagfuls of supplies. "Go get your packs and load some of this crap up."
Lee and Kevin went to do as told. Mr. Johnson began calling out names for attendance.
"Has anyone seen Mr. Willington today? He's late.", said Mr. Johnson.
"I've seen him, earlier. Maybe he's skipping.", said Nathan, who sat at the very front of the class.
"Don't be ridiculous, Mr. Klentz. James is a straight A student. Nothing would drive him away from the big test today.", said the teacher.
(I can think of one thing that would make him skip. And her name is Desiree.) Thought Lee.
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Earnest walked calmly down the hall, looking at posters for school activities, trophy cases and the like. Suddenly, he heard footsteps behind him. He turned to see James.
"What do you want?", asked Earnest.
"The laptop.", said James, calmly holding out his hand. "Give it to me."
"Sorry James, my pancakes don't flip that way.", joked Earnest. James fumed.
"That's NOT what I meant!", yelled James. Earnest took off and was already halfway down the hall. "Oh, so it's a chase you want, eh? I'm game. And so is Infermon..."
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A Social Studies Room:
Alex sighed and looked up at the lights on the roof. Ace and Arik did the same.
"Socials is soooo boring.", moaned Alex.
"It is.", agreed Ace.
"I-- did you just look down my shirt?!", exclaimed Alex.
"Uh, no!", shouted Ace, blushing.
"I'm going to tell Lee...", said Alex. Ace slapped his forehead. Arik laughed at him until he saw Earnest run past the door.
"What the hell is Earnest doing, and why is he running?", asked Arik. The other two looked.
"I have no idea...", muttered Ace, until Infermon and James ran past the door as well.
"Infermon!?", shouted all three at once.
"Would you three kindly be quiet and take your seats?", asked Mr. Rathjen. He glared at the three of them for interrupting his lesson plan.
"No can do, we gotta split!", shouted Alex, as the three of them left the classroom. "Oh, it's detention for us this time..."
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"I'm gonna get ya! And then I'm gonna eat ya!", shouted Infermon, bounding after Earnest.
"Ah! This is sounding like a bad fairy tale!", said Earnest. James and Infermon backed him into a corner.
"Face it. You've lost. Now give up and submit...", said James. He held out an alloy necklace. "I've got a pretty present for you..."
"No way José!", shouted Ace. He ran up at James with a binder and smashed the necklace in James's hands, causing the beads to drop to the floor and disintegrate.
"What the--", stammered James, taken off guard. Then he noticed Alex and Arik.
"Arik! Go deep!", shouted Earnest. Earnest hurled Kevin's laptop into the air, praying for a safe recovery... but Arik missed the catch.
Alex then leapt and caught it before it hit the ground. James and Infermon snarled, ignoring Ace and Earnest now.
"Time to book it!", said Alex. She and Arik turned and ran for their lives, the villains followed. Ace and Earnest scratched their heads.
"Do we follow?", asked Ace.
"No. We just sit here.", replied Earnest, sarcastically.
"Oh, ok.", replied Ace. Earnest gave him a friendly smack in the face.
"But how do we fight Infermon? He's an ultimate!", shouted Ace.
"I'm still working on that...", muttered Earnest. They turned to run and ran right into each other, falling over.
"We gotta work on that, too.", groaned Ace.
---------------------------------
Arik and Alex turned a corner and began to make tracks up the stairs. James and Infermon followed without distress.
"Why are they going upstairs? They're trapping themselves.", said Infermon.
"It's redundant, but one must be thankful for small favors.", replied James. The rich kid and his big ugly bug reached the top of the stairs to see Alex and Arik running into the English classroom. "We've got them now."
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Arik and Alex burst into the classroom and gathered everyone's attention. Mr. Johnson looked particularly annoyed.
"What is the meaning of this!?", shouted Mr. Johnson. Alex ignored him.
"Lee! James and Infermon want the Guardian!", shouted Alex. She tossed the laptop to Kevin. "Keep that safe!"
Kevin, slightly shocked, nodded. Before anyone else had a chance to react, Diaboromon broke through the wall and seized Mr. Johnson by the waist with his two stretchy arms. There were screams galore as he laid his sickening smile over the class.
"Get out. Run.", he growled. Students poured for the door and made their way out, screaming and yelling. Before long, the entire school was in an uproar. Lee had stayed in the wrecked classroom with Arik, Alex and Allison to back him up. Diaboromon dropped Mr. Johnson and the teacher ran away screaming. He then smiled again at the Chosen.
"Tag.", he growled. He shot out an arm at Arik, smashing him again the wall. He then stretched out both of them and smashed Allison and Alex against the wall! The three of them collapsed to the ground. Lee glared at the psycho Digimon.
"It's simple, really.", said James, walking in. "I stop hurting your friends and your little girlfriend... and you give me the Guardian."
Lee looked at Kevin, who was holding the laptop while huddling behind a desk with Nathan. Lee shook his head.
"I'm afraid I can't do that, Smellington. But I can do one thing... Nathan!", shouted Lee. Nathan threw Lee his D-Volver and Lee wasted no time using the recall button. Kokuwamon was ported in front of Lee!
"What the--? A Digivice and a partner still remain!?", gasped James.
"Damn straight! Kokuwamon, Digivolve!", shouted Lee.
{{{DIGIVOLUTION}}}
"Kokuwamon!!! Digivolve to..."
Kokuwamon grew about three times his normal size. He grew huge metallic pincers, and his body became shaped like a huge four-legged bug. Two wings that resembled jet wings bursted out of his back and his eyes glew red. He was covered with ancient inscriptions of Digi-code.
"...TECKUWAGAMON!!!"
{{{END DIGIVOLUTION}}}
TecKuwagamon stood battle ready. Lee scratched his head.
"What are you doing!? Warp to Machinedramon!", shouted Lee.
"And crush this building and any students still in it!?", asked TecKuwagamon. Lee groaned. (He's right... we can't really fight here...)
"It doesn't look like this will help you anyway!", shouted James, "Attack Diaboromon!"
Diaboromon leapt at TecKuwagamon, smashing him across the face. Tecky spun around and crashed onto the floor.
"Lee! Don't give up!", shouted Earnest as he and Ace entered the room.
"Go away.", growled Diaboromon, smashing the two of them into the hall with his elastic arms. TecKuwagamon began to get up, but Diaboromon turned and nailed him again! This time, he devolved back into Kokuwamon.
"Game set and match.", said James. He snapped his fingers, sending Kokuwamon to the Desolate Server.
"Well, Lee, it looks like it's just you and me.", gloated James, walking towards Lee. Lee balled a fist but then released it, deciding that every time he punched James, something bad happened. Like when he was beaten by him, or got stabbed by him. He clutched the scar James left on his stomach and looked James in the eye.
"Come on Lee! You can take him!", shouted Nathan, who had been hiding behind a desk all this time. James looked at him.
(Hmmm...I can make this interesting...), thought James. He signaled for Diaboromon to pick Nathan up. Diaboromon leapt over to him and threw the desk aside, and lifted Nathan high into the air with his two gangly arms.
"Hey! Let me down! Ahhh!", screamed Nathan.
"Let him go James! He's not even part of this!", shouted Lee. James laughed. Lee looked at Diaboromon squeezing poor Nathan who kicked and struggled to get free.
"Hmmm...how about a choice? Your friend over there...", started James, pointing at Nathan. Then he pointed at Lee. "...or the key to releasing all those INNOCENT Chosen you sent to the Desolate Server?"
Lee looked around in desperation. All he saw was a smashed up classroom and his friends and fellow students laying unconscious on the floor.
"Arik is right... James isn't as smart as me... he's just so rich that he gets perfect grades. So I've got to be able to come up with a plan of action better than his...", muttered Lee to himself.
"Talking to yourself isn't going to get you anywhere.", taunted James.
Lee thought to himself for a second.
(My options here are very limited... I could try to stall him...but that is too risky.) thought Lee. (I could try using a desk or something to knock him out, but then there is the matter of Diaboromon ...but... what if I could break the control of the dark flower she implanted into his brain...?), he mused. He then decided he'd go with that plan.
"James, don't do this! He's another human being! It's all just being implanted into your brain! By that dark flower Desiree crammed into your skull! You think you love her, but it's just emotions from the dark flower... you don't really love her...", said Lee, sadly. He took a few steps towards James. "It's not true. None of it is!"
"Lying... you're LYING!", screamed James, "Diaboromon will kill him! Him or you, choose!"
Lee continued stepping towards James, "Oh, so now it's me, eh? I thought you wanted the laptop! Or is it that you really just want revenge on me and not to follow Desiree's orders! Are you too scared to fight without her Dark powers controlling you and making all your decisions for you!"
"Y- yes...!", muttered James.
"You were scared when we were going to report Flannigan too. You can't be scared! You can't be controlled! I know that we have had our differences in the past...but I'd be willing to give friendship a chance...if you are..."
James appeared shaken up. "Become... friends... with you?", he asked. "I've never had any real friends..."
"Well, now is your chance... fight the dark flower...", offered Lee. He extended his hand to James. James stared at it.
"You had better know what you're doing, Lee...", muttered Nathan.
"I believe in you... we all believe in you...", groaned Alex, still semi- conscious.
James' insane face slowly changed into a smile. "Friends with Lee... I'm friends with Lee."
He shook Lee's hand. Diaboromon put Nathan down and he ran over next to Lee. James and Diaboromon started to glow with an orange light.
"Lee, what's going on now?!", asked Nathan, scared out of his mind.
"Something awesome...", said Lee.
{{{DIGIVOLUTION}}}
"Bio-Merge Activate!!!", shouted James.
James' clothes ripped off and he began to meld into Diaboromon's body.
"Diaboromon! Bio-Merge to..."
With a flash of light, the two combined into an insectoid creature that was completely black. He twirled around, whipping his many tendrils that also served as legs around in the air.
"...ARMAGEMON!!!"
{{{END DIGIVOLUTION}}}
"Holy Hannah...", grunted Nathan. "We are so dead now..."
"No... you aren't.", said Armagemon, with both James and Diaboromon's voices. "I am... free from Desiree's control. Somehow And sorry for all the things I have done to you."
"Eh, no problem. Next time you try to squeeze the life outta me, I'll squeal with joy instead of pain.", said Nathan.
Lee nodded approvingly. Armagemon looked to the sky.
"I know where Desiree's new stronghold is... get on!", shouted Armagemon. Armagemon used a healing spell and all the Chosen became to come to. Lee explained the situation to them and the eight of them got onto Armagemon's back.
"This is crazy!", shouted Allison.
"Crazy works.", replied Alex, grinning. "Now we're going to fly on a big, black bug. What could be cooler?"
"Uh... seatbelts...", muttered Ace.
"Awww... is the widdle baby scared?", mocked Alex.
"Not scared. Just... afraid.", whined Ace.
"Is that any different?", asked Arik.
"Who cares?", said Armagemon. "Hold on tight!"
Armagemon leapt out the side of the school and began to hover. He turned and headed in the direction of the Eastern Mountain range. The one where Lee and Allison fought Carrie, don't ya know.
He flew high above it, seemingly trying to pinpoint a certain location in the mountain.
"Man, we never would've found her here...", said Kevin, looking into the mess of trees below them.
{AFFIRMATIVE. SHE IS VERY CRAFTY.}
"Yeah, so what's the plan anyway?", asked Arik.
"Yo, Jamie! You a team player?", asked Nathan. Armagemon grunted at the name 'Jamie'.
"I could give it a shot... if you don't call me that anymore.", said Armagemon.
"Deal, Jamie!", said Nathan.
{ALRIGHT. WHEN WE BREACH HER BASE, JAMES WILL TAKE LEE, NATHAN, EARNEST AND ACE TO GO DISTRACT DESIREE AND BEELZEMON.}
"Got that.", said Armagemon.
{KEVIN. YOU, ARIK, ALLISON AND ALEX MUST CONNECT ME TO HER POWER SOURCES AND FOLLOW FURTHER DIRECTIONS AS I GIVE THEM.}
"Okey dokey.", replied Kevin.
"I've spotted it!", shouted Armagemon. He began to set down upon a huge metal building, enshrouded by trees. It looked fairly menacing. Armagemon let them off and then began to lead Lee, Ace, Earnest and Nathan around back.
"How the hell did she build this place...?", asked Allison.
{SHE GOT OMNIMON TO DO IT.}
"How?! He has no hands!", shouted Arik.
"Just shut up and let's get inside.", said Alex. "I assume you can open the front door."
{OF COURSE. I'M NOT AN APPLE COMPUTER, YOU KNOW.}
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Around back:
"Man, this place would make for some great dirt biking...", said Nathan, in awe of the woodlands around him.
"Not now, Nathan.", groaned Lee. "So, do you think Desiree knows we're here- -"
Suddenly, there was an explosion and Beelzemon leapt out of the wall of the base! He tackled Armagemon and they fell into the dirt! The four Chosen ran inside the complex.
"I'd call that a yes.", said Ace.
"A yes to what?", asked Desiree, standing next to her computer screen, looking as sexy and evil as ever. She was holding a big chair in her hands.
"Oh joy. We're all gonna die.", muttered Nathan.
---
"You! Traitor!!", shouted Beelzemon, pounding punches down upon Armagemon. Armagemon took the hit and then flipped Beelzemon off.
"I'm no traitor! I'm just free from your wicked control!", shouted Armagemon. Beelzemon smirked.
"Well, then. That's your funeral. I may have cared about ya when I was Impmon... but Beelzemon is a whole different story!", shouted Beelzemon. "Double Impact!"
Beelzemon rained shotgun shells on Armagemon, who grunted. He smashed Beelzemon across the head, sending him flying into the dirt.
"I have no remorse for you, tool of darkness.", said Armagemon.
"Good! Then you won't mind me trying out this little maneuver! Blast Mode!", yelled Beelzemon. Armagemon let out a gasp of shock. Beelzemon now had wings and a huge cannon on his right arm. "What do ya think of my new blast mode? Pretty swanky, huh?"
"Blast Mode this!", shouted Armagemon, leaping at him.
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"Ok, we're inside... now what?", asked Allison.
{HOOK ME UP TO THAT CONTROL CONSOLE OVER THERE.}
Kevin and Allison ran to the control console and set the laptop on a chair. Allison pulled the cover off the central computer and her jaw dropped.
"Hoo-boy. I'm lost. Lookit all the wires and shiny things."
"I can do it...", said Kevin, gently nudging Allison aside. "Just give me directions..."
{AFFIRMATIVE.}
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Desiree leaned forward on the chair, smiling somewhat evilly at the four intruders to her sanctum.
"Desiree, you have to stop this.", said Earnest, stepping forward. "Don't you realize the madness you're spreading? Soon it will be beyond even our repair! You have too--"
Desiree threw the chair at Earnest's head, who quickly ducked, and the chair hit Ace.
"Ow! Not again!", groaned Ace.
"Shut up. All of you.", said Desiree. "I tire of your incompetence. If you were able to stop me, you would have done it by now. Now here you are... partnerless and with chair-shaped bruises on your faces. Pathetic."
"You're pathetic. Why hijack innocents like James into doing your dirty work for you?", asked Lee.
"It amused me.", said Desiree. "Now, if you don't mind, I have a test to run."
"A test... of what?", asked Lee.
"I found a way to exterminate the Shadow problem. Cut them off at the source.", explained Desiree. She walked over to a control console and sat down in it. The four boys just stood there, dumbfounded.
"What? Do I have to take off my clothes to get you guys to come over here?", said Desiree. "Come see."
The four of them slowly walked over to the control console and watched Desiree's computer screen.
"Not too close. I wouldn't trust me if I were you.", warned Desiree.
"I would trust you if I was me, either.", said Nathan. Lee smacked his forehead. Desiree called up a screen.
"See this Server? This is Modem Server.", said Desiree. "Fully infested by the Shadow. These heroes, known as 'Legendary Warriors' were unable to stop them."
"How does that help?", asked Lee.
"Simple, before the Shadow move to attack our Server... I simply hit this delete key.", said Desiree. She hit delete, and Modem Server was wiped from the Server list.
"What the hell!? You can't do that!", shouted Lee.
"I can. And you won't stop me!", replied Desiree. "Because I've learned that if you want things done right... do them yourself!"
Desiree turned around and punched Lee in the face. She grabbed him and threw him into the chair. She turned and kicked Nathan in the stomach before grabbing Earnest and smashing his face into her knee. She threw Earnest into Nathan, knocking the two of them over. She looked at Ace.
"Crap.", muttered Ace, before taking a brutal kick to the balls.
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"Dark Ringer!", shouted Beelzemon, firing out of his new cannon at Armagemon. Armagemon leapt upwards to avoid the attack and looked down at Beelzemon.
"Game over, leather-boy. Soul Feed!", shouted Armagemon. He blasted a dark energy bolt from his mouth, knocking Beelzemon out cold instantly. Armagemon set down to recover his strength.
"Man... it is so good to be free. But... I still feel so evil...", sighed Armagemon. "That I cannot justify the things I have done..."
Suddenly, Armagemon heard Ace's scream of nut-crunching pain come from inside the base.
"Oh no... I'm coming!", shouted Armagemon. He leapt through the hole to see the four boys laying on the floor, in pain. He looked at Desiree, who smirked.
"Ah, James. Wonderful to see you... traitor.", said Desiree. "Your days are through... Beelzemon... NOW!"
"Desiree, no!", shouted Lee. Beelzemon leapt up and pointed his gun through the hole in the wall. He charged all power into it.
"CHAOS FLARE!!!", shouted Beelzemon. He fired the concentrated beam of energy directly into Armagemon! Lee's eyes widened.
"James! James, hang on!", yelled Lee. Armagemon screamed in incredible pain. Desiree smiled.
"Yes... Yes... die traitor!", shouted Desiree.
"Usually, I don't hit women, but...", said Lee. He slugged Desiree, sending her flying to the floor. He ran over and picked up the chair that hit Ace and raised it above the control console.
"Let's see if this cuts off his power!", shouted Lee. He smashed Desiree's control console, sending sparks flying everywhere. Desiree let out a scream of rage.
"No! You fool! Do you know what you have destroyed! You're going to--", began Desiree, but she was cut off as something emerged from the broken computer.
"What the hell is that!?", asked Nathan."
"A... a Shadow!", gasped Earnest. The small black creature eyed Desiree and flew to her as if it were attracted to her. It embedded itself in her skin and she fell unconscious. All movement stopped. All fighting stopped. Armagemon collapsed to the ground, laying more still than Desiree. Lee ran over to him, as Beelzemon ran to Desiree.
"James! James... speak to me man!", shouted Lee. Armagemon looked at him, weakly.
"Lee... I'm sorry I couldn't... be your... friend...", choked Armagemon. Suddenly, Armagemon split into the forms of Keramon and James. Both were crumpled up and... dead.
"Dead... he's d-dead...?", gasped Nathan.
"Oh my god...", sighed Ace. "This is... that's... horrible..."
The three of them were almost in tears, never having experienced a death in person before... they are only kids you know.
Earnest however, was more interested in the creature that attacked Desiree. He was wondering what effects it would have on her.
"It was classified as a Possess Shadow... I wonder if it did it's job...", he said, looking at Desiree. Beelzemon pointed his gun at Earnest. Then changed it and pointed his gun at the wall into the other room and blew a hole in it.
"Leave. All of you. Before I destroy you. I'm giving you this one chance... now take it!", shouted Beelzemon. Lee wiped his tears away and nodded, as did Nathan and Ace. Earnest followed them, though still occupied with thinking about Shadow activity.
They saw Arik, Allison, Alex and Kevin waiting for them, with the laptop properly connected to the control console and ready to transport them all!
"Let's go... to the Desolate Server...", said Lee, sadly. (James, you will be avenged. For as soon as our partners are back... Desiree is mine.)
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The Last Day of school before Christmas Break. It's any high-school student's dream. But for Lee Trainer and his band of Chosen, it was one of the last things on their minds...
Lee, Earnest Kevin, Arik and Alex were at the hangout in their corner of the school. The four of them were crowded around the laptop, who was talking to Kevin and Earnest.
"Lee, are you sure I'm allowed to be in your school?", asked Earnest. "I don't go here..."
"No one will know. No one will care. Trust me.", replied Lee. Lee was holding Alex, who was still a little injured from yesterday's battle. Arik was keeping lookout making sure no one saw the talking laptop. That would be the last thing they need, to explain things.
Ace and Nathan came running in.
"Guys, James looks extra shifty today. He kept glaring at us.", said Nathan.
"Yeah, it was sort of spooky.", added Ace. "You have Kokuwamon handy, don't you?"
"Yeah, I brought him to school with us, because I thought he'd be safest near us.", explained Lee. (Desiree knows where I live, so I don't trust her with Kokuwamon at home. He's the only partner who hasn't been sent to the Desolate Server.)
"Where's Allison?", asked Alex. Ace and Nathan shrugged.
"She's probably still gathering supplies for our trip.", said Earnest. "She said she'd take care of it."
"Yeah, her family is a rich little pot of gold. They can afford almost anything they want.", said Lee.
"Money isn't everything...", said Alex.
"You're everything.", said Lee, holding Alex close to him.
"Geez, no sex in the lobby, okay?", joked Nathan. Alex threw her shoe at him, but he ducked and it hit Ace.
"OW!", shouted Ace, massaging his face. Alex and Lee sweat dropped.
"I think first block is about to start...", said Arik, checking his watch.
"Here. Hold onto this.", said Kevin, giving Earnest the laptop. The lot of them grabbed their bags and prepared to head off to class. Lee took Alex's hand and they were the last two to leave. He turned to Earnest and said...
"Class lasts an hour. Stay here until then, ok?", asked Lee. Earnest nodded. Lee and Alex left, leaving Earnest alone. He sat down and opened the laptop.
"Laptop, can you locate Leila for me?", asked Earnest.
{OF COURSE.}
{LEILA IS IN DESOLATE SERVER, CONTAINMENT CAMP C.}
"Is that where we're going to teleport to when we head to the Desolate Server?", asked Earnest.
{ALAS, NO. WE WILL BE STRIKING CONTAINMENT CAMP B FIRST.}
"Oh well... thanks.", said Earnest, closing the laptop. He held it under his arm and decided to take a short stroll, after all, schools fascinated him. Since he had never been to one before.
He got up and left, James peered around the corner and looked at him.
"There's the Laptop...", muttered James. "If I don't get that back for Desiree... I'll be... toast."
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Lee and Kevin entered English class and threw their bags by their desks. They went over to see Allison, who was already in class.
"Allison, did you get everything?", asked Lee.
"Yup. It's mostly food, but I got some other basic stuff too.", said Allison, holding up bagfuls of supplies. "Go get your packs and load some of this crap up."
Lee and Kevin went to do as told. Mr. Johnson began calling out names for attendance.
"Has anyone seen Mr. Willington today? He's late.", said Mr. Johnson.
"I've seen him, earlier. Maybe he's skipping.", said Nathan, who sat at the very front of the class.
"Don't be ridiculous, Mr. Klentz. James is a straight A student. Nothing would drive him away from the big test today.", said the teacher.
(I can think of one thing that would make him skip. And her name is Desiree.) Thought Lee.
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Earnest walked calmly down the hall, looking at posters for school activities, trophy cases and the like. Suddenly, he heard footsteps behind him. He turned to see James.
"What do you want?", asked Earnest.
"The laptop.", said James, calmly holding out his hand. "Give it to me."
"Sorry James, my pancakes don't flip that way.", joked Earnest. James fumed.
"That's NOT what I meant!", yelled James. Earnest took off and was already halfway down the hall. "Oh, so it's a chase you want, eh? I'm game. And so is Infermon..."
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A Social Studies Room:
Alex sighed and looked up at the lights on the roof. Ace and Arik did the same.
"Socials is soooo boring.", moaned Alex.
"It is.", agreed Ace.
"I-- did you just look down my shirt?!", exclaimed Alex.
"Uh, no!", shouted Ace, blushing.
"I'm going to tell Lee...", said Alex. Ace slapped his forehead. Arik laughed at him until he saw Earnest run past the door.
"What the hell is Earnest doing, and why is he running?", asked Arik. The other two looked.
"I have no idea...", muttered Ace, until Infermon and James ran past the door as well.
"Infermon!?", shouted all three at once.
"Would you three kindly be quiet and take your seats?", asked Mr. Rathjen. He glared at the three of them for interrupting his lesson plan.
"No can do, we gotta split!", shouted Alex, as the three of them left the classroom. "Oh, it's detention for us this time..."
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"I'm gonna get ya! And then I'm gonna eat ya!", shouted Infermon, bounding after Earnest.
"Ah! This is sounding like a bad fairy tale!", said Earnest. James and Infermon backed him into a corner.
"Face it. You've lost. Now give up and submit...", said James. He held out an alloy necklace. "I've got a pretty present for you..."
"No way José!", shouted Ace. He ran up at James with a binder and smashed the necklace in James's hands, causing the beads to drop to the floor and disintegrate.
"What the--", stammered James, taken off guard. Then he noticed Alex and Arik.
"Arik! Go deep!", shouted Earnest. Earnest hurled Kevin's laptop into the air, praying for a safe recovery... but Arik missed the catch.
Alex then leapt and caught it before it hit the ground. James and Infermon snarled, ignoring Ace and Earnest now.
"Time to book it!", said Alex. She and Arik turned and ran for their lives, the villains followed. Ace and Earnest scratched their heads.
"Do we follow?", asked Ace.
"No. We just sit here.", replied Earnest, sarcastically.
"Oh, ok.", replied Ace. Earnest gave him a friendly smack in the face.
"But how do we fight Infermon? He's an ultimate!", shouted Ace.
"I'm still working on that...", muttered Earnest. They turned to run and ran right into each other, falling over.
"We gotta work on that, too.", groaned Ace.
---------------------------------
Arik and Alex turned a corner and began to make tracks up the stairs. James and Infermon followed without distress.
"Why are they going upstairs? They're trapping themselves.", said Infermon.
"It's redundant, but one must be thankful for small favors.", replied James. The rich kid and his big ugly bug reached the top of the stairs to see Alex and Arik running into the English classroom. "We've got them now."
----------------------------------
Arik and Alex burst into the classroom and gathered everyone's attention. Mr. Johnson looked particularly annoyed.
"What is the meaning of this!?", shouted Mr. Johnson. Alex ignored him.
"Lee! James and Infermon want the Guardian!", shouted Alex. She tossed the laptop to Kevin. "Keep that safe!"
Kevin, slightly shocked, nodded. Before anyone else had a chance to react, Diaboromon broke through the wall and seized Mr. Johnson by the waist with his two stretchy arms. There were screams galore as he laid his sickening smile over the class.
"Get out. Run.", he growled. Students poured for the door and made their way out, screaming and yelling. Before long, the entire school was in an uproar. Lee had stayed in the wrecked classroom with Arik, Alex and Allison to back him up. Diaboromon dropped Mr. Johnson and the teacher ran away screaming. He then smiled again at the Chosen.
"Tag.", he growled. He shot out an arm at Arik, smashing him again the wall. He then stretched out both of them and smashed Allison and Alex against the wall! The three of them collapsed to the ground. Lee glared at the psycho Digimon.
"It's simple, really.", said James, walking in. "I stop hurting your friends and your little girlfriend... and you give me the Guardian."
Lee looked at Kevin, who was holding the laptop while huddling behind a desk with Nathan. Lee shook his head.
"I'm afraid I can't do that, Smellington. But I can do one thing... Nathan!", shouted Lee. Nathan threw Lee his D-Volver and Lee wasted no time using the recall button. Kokuwamon was ported in front of Lee!
"What the--? A Digivice and a partner still remain!?", gasped James.
"Damn straight! Kokuwamon, Digivolve!", shouted Lee.
{{{DIGIVOLUTION}}}
"Kokuwamon!!! Digivolve to..."
Kokuwamon grew about three times his normal size. He grew huge metallic pincers, and his body became shaped like a huge four-legged bug. Two wings that resembled jet wings bursted out of his back and his eyes glew red. He was covered with ancient inscriptions of Digi-code.
"...TECKUWAGAMON!!!"
{{{END DIGIVOLUTION}}}
TecKuwagamon stood battle ready. Lee scratched his head.
"What are you doing!? Warp to Machinedramon!", shouted Lee.
"And crush this building and any students still in it!?", asked TecKuwagamon. Lee groaned. (He's right... we can't really fight here...)
"It doesn't look like this will help you anyway!", shouted James, "Attack Diaboromon!"
Diaboromon leapt at TecKuwagamon, smashing him across the face. Tecky spun around and crashed onto the floor.
"Lee! Don't give up!", shouted Earnest as he and Ace entered the room.
"Go away.", growled Diaboromon, smashing the two of them into the hall with his elastic arms. TecKuwagamon began to get up, but Diaboromon turned and nailed him again! This time, he devolved back into Kokuwamon.
"Game set and match.", said James. He snapped his fingers, sending Kokuwamon to the Desolate Server.
"Well, Lee, it looks like it's just you and me.", gloated James, walking towards Lee. Lee balled a fist but then released it, deciding that every time he punched James, something bad happened. Like when he was beaten by him, or got stabbed by him. He clutched the scar James left on his stomach and looked James in the eye.
"Come on Lee! You can take him!", shouted Nathan, who had been hiding behind a desk all this time. James looked at him.
(Hmmm...I can make this interesting...), thought James. He signaled for Diaboromon to pick Nathan up. Diaboromon leapt over to him and threw the desk aside, and lifted Nathan high into the air with his two gangly arms.
"Hey! Let me down! Ahhh!", screamed Nathan.
"Let him go James! He's not even part of this!", shouted Lee. James laughed. Lee looked at Diaboromon squeezing poor Nathan who kicked and struggled to get free.
"Hmmm...how about a choice? Your friend over there...", started James, pointing at Nathan. Then he pointed at Lee. "...or the key to releasing all those INNOCENT Chosen you sent to the Desolate Server?"
Lee looked around in desperation. All he saw was a smashed up classroom and his friends and fellow students laying unconscious on the floor.
"Arik is right... James isn't as smart as me... he's just so rich that he gets perfect grades. So I've got to be able to come up with a plan of action better than his...", muttered Lee to himself.
"Talking to yourself isn't going to get you anywhere.", taunted James.
Lee thought to himself for a second.
(My options here are very limited... I could try to stall him...but that is too risky.) thought Lee. (I could try using a desk or something to knock him out, but then there is the matter of Diaboromon ...but... what if I could break the control of the dark flower she implanted into his brain...?), he mused. He then decided he'd go with that plan.
"James, don't do this! He's another human being! It's all just being implanted into your brain! By that dark flower Desiree crammed into your skull! You think you love her, but it's just emotions from the dark flower... you don't really love her...", said Lee, sadly. He took a few steps towards James. "It's not true. None of it is!"
"Lying... you're LYING!", screamed James, "Diaboromon will kill him! Him or you, choose!"
Lee continued stepping towards James, "Oh, so now it's me, eh? I thought you wanted the laptop! Or is it that you really just want revenge on me and not to follow Desiree's orders! Are you too scared to fight without her Dark powers controlling you and making all your decisions for you!"
"Y- yes...!", muttered James.
"You were scared when we were going to report Flannigan too. You can't be scared! You can't be controlled! I know that we have had our differences in the past...but I'd be willing to give friendship a chance...if you are..."
James appeared shaken up. "Become... friends... with you?", he asked. "I've never had any real friends..."
"Well, now is your chance... fight the dark flower...", offered Lee. He extended his hand to James. James stared at it.
"You had better know what you're doing, Lee...", muttered Nathan.
"I believe in you... we all believe in you...", groaned Alex, still semi- conscious.
James' insane face slowly changed into a smile. "Friends with Lee... I'm friends with Lee."
He shook Lee's hand. Diaboromon put Nathan down and he ran over next to Lee. James and Diaboromon started to glow with an orange light.
"Lee, what's going on now?!", asked Nathan, scared out of his mind.
"Something awesome...", said Lee.
{{{DIGIVOLUTION}}}
"Bio-Merge Activate!!!", shouted James.
James' clothes ripped off and he began to meld into Diaboromon's body.
"Diaboromon! Bio-Merge to..."
With a flash of light, the two combined into an insectoid creature that was completely black. He twirled around, whipping his many tendrils that also served as legs around in the air.
"...ARMAGEMON!!!"
{{{END DIGIVOLUTION}}}
"Holy Hannah...", grunted Nathan. "We are so dead now..."
"No... you aren't.", said Armagemon, with both James and Diaboromon's voices. "I am... free from Desiree's control. Somehow And sorry for all the things I have done to you."
"Eh, no problem. Next time you try to squeeze the life outta me, I'll squeal with joy instead of pain.", said Nathan.
Lee nodded approvingly. Armagemon looked to the sky.
"I know where Desiree's new stronghold is... get on!", shouted Armagemon. Armagemon used a healing spell and all the Chosen became to come to. Lee explained the situation to them and the eight of them got onto Armagemon's back.
"This is crazy!", shouted Allison.
"Crazy works.", replied Alex, grinning. "Now we're going to fly on a big, black bug. What could be cooler?"
"Uh... seatbelts...", muttered Ace.
"Awww... is the widdle baby scared?", mocked Alex.
"Not scared. Just... afraid.", whined Ace.
"Is that any different?", asked Arik.
"Who cares?", said Armagemon. "Hold on tight!"
Armagemon leapt out the side of the school and began to hover. He turned and headed in the direction of the Eastern Mountain range. The one where Lee and Allison fought Carrie, don't ya know.
He flew high above it, seemingly trying to pinpoint a certain location in the mountain.
"Man, we never would've found her here...", said Kevin, looking into the mess of trees below them.
{AFFIRMATIVE. SHE IS VERY CRAFTY.}
"Yeah, so what's the plan anyway?", asked Arik.
"Yo, Jamie! You a team player?", asked Nathan. Armagemon grunted at the name 'Jamie'.
"I could give it a shot... if you don't call me that anymore.", said Armagemon.
"Deal, Jamie!", said Nathan.
{ALRIGHT. WHEN WE BREACH HER BASE, JAMES WILL TAKE LEE, NATHAN, EARNEST AND ACE TO GO DISTRACT DESIREE AND BEELZEMON.}
"Got that.", said Armagemon.
{KEVIN. YOU, ARIK, ALLISON AND ALEX MUST CONNECT ME TO HER POWER SOURCES AND FOLLOW FURTHER DIRECTIONS AS I GIVE THEM.}
"Okey dokey.", replied Kevin.
"I've spotted it!", shouted Armagemon. He began to set down upon a huge metal building, enshrouded by trees. It looked fairly menacing. Armagemon let them off and then began to lead Lee, Ace, Earnest and Nathan around back.
"How the hell did she build this place...?", asked Allison.
{SHE GOT OMNIMON TO DO IT.}
"How?! He has no hands!", shouted Arik.
"Just shut up and let's get inside.", said Alex. "I assume you can open the front door."
{OF COURSE. I'M NOT AN APPLE COMPUTER, YOU KNOW.}
-------------------------------
Around back:
"Man, this place would make for some great dirt biking...", said Nathan, in awe of the woodlands around him.
"Not now, Nathan.", groaned Lee. "So, do you think Desiree knows we're here- -"
Suddenly, there was an explosion and Beelzemon leapt out of the wall of the base! He tackled Armagemon and they fell into the dirt! The four Chosen ran inside the complex.
"I'd call that a yes.", said Ace.
"A yes to what?", asked Desiree, standing next to her computer screen, looking as sexy and evil as ever. She was holding a big chair in her hands.
"Oh joy. We're all gonna die.", muttered Nathan.
---
"You! Traitor!!", shouted Beelzemon, pounding punches down upon Armagemon. Armagemon took the hit and then flipped Beelzemon off.
"I'm no traitor! I'm just free from your wicked control!", shouted Armagemon. Beelzemon smirked.
"Well, then. That's your funeral. I may have cared about ya when I was Impmon... but Beelzemon is a whole different story!", shouted Beelzemon. "Double Impact!"
Beelzemon rained shotgun shells on Armagemon, who grunted. He smashed Beelzemon across the head, sending him flying into the dirt.
"I have no remorse for you, tool of darkness.", said Armagemon.
"Good! Then you won't mind me trying out this little maneuver! Blast Mode!", yelled Beelzemon. Armagemon let out a gasp of shock. Beelzemon now had wings and a huge cannon on his right arm. "What do ya think of my new blast mode? Pretty swanky, huh?"
"Blast Mode this!", shouted Armagemon, leaping at him.
---------------
"Ok, we're inside... now what?", asked Allison.
{HOOK ME UP TO THAT CONTROL CONSOLE OVER THERE.}
Kevin and Allison ran to the control console and set the laptop on a chair. Allison pulled the cover off the central computer and her jaw dropped.
"Hoo-boy. I'm lost. Lookit all the wires and shiny things."
"I can do it...", said Kevin, gently nudging Allison aside. "Just give me directions..."
{AFFIRMATIVE.}
-----------------
Desiree leaned forward on the chair, smiling somewhat evilly at the four intruders to her sanctum.
"Desiree, you have to stop this.", said Earnest, stepping forward. "Don't you realize the madness you're spreading? Soon it will be beyond even our repair! You have too--"
Desiree threw the chair at Earnest's head, who quickly ducked, and the chair hit Ace.
"Ow! Not again!", groaned Ace.
"Shut up. All of you.", said Desiree. "I tire of your incompetence. If you were able to stop me, you would have done it by now. Now here you are... partnerless and with chair-shaped bruises on your faces. Pathetic."
"You're pathetic. Why hijack innocents like James into doing your dirty work for you?", asked Lee.
"It amused me.", said Desiree. "Now, if you don't mind, I have a test to run."
"A test... of what?", asked Lee.
"I found a way to exterminate the Shadow problem. Cut them off at the source.", explained Desiree. She walked over to a control console and sat down in it. The four boys just stood there, dumbfounded.
"What? Do I have to take off my clothes to get you guys to come over here?", said Desiree. "Come see."
The four of them slowly walked over to the control console and watched Desiree's computer screen.
"Not too close. I wouldn't trust me if I were you.", warned Desiree.
"I would trust you if I was me, either.", said Nathan. Lee smacked his forehead. Desiree called up a screen.
"See this Server? This is Modem Server.", said Desiree. "Fully infested by the Shadow. These heroes, known as 'Legendary Warriors' were unable to stop them."
"How does that help?", asked Lee.
"Simple, before the Shadow move to attack our Server... I simply hit this delete key.", said Desiree. She hit delete, and Modem Server was wiped from the Server list.
"What the hell!? You can't do that!", shouted Lee.
"I can. And you won't stop me!", replied Desiree. "Because I've learned that if you want things done right... do them yourself!"
Desiree turned around and punched Lee in the face. She grabbed him and threw him into the chair. She turned and kicked Nathan in the stomach before grabbing Earnest and smashing his face into her knee. She threw Earnest into Nathan, knocking the two of them over. She looked at Ace.
"Crap.", muttered Ace, before taking a brutal kick to the balls.
----------------------------
"Dark Ringer!", shouted Beelzemon, firing out of his new cannon at Armagemon. Armagemon leapt upwards to avoid the attack and looked down at Beelzemon.
"Game over, leather-boy. Soul Feed!", shouted Armagemon. He blasted a dark energy bolt from his mouth, knocking Beelzemon out cold instantly. Armagemon set down to recover his strength.
"Man... it is so good to be free. But... I still feel so evil...", sighed Armagemon. "That I cannot justify the things I have done..."
Suddenly, Armagemon heard Ace's scream of nut-crunching pain come from inside the base.
"Oh no... I'm coming!", shouted Armagemon. He leapt through the hole to see the four boys laying on the floor, in pain. He looked at Desiree, who smirked.
"Ah, James. Wonderful to see you... traitor.", said Desiree. "Your days are through... Beelzemon... NOW!"
"Desiree, no!", shouted Lee. Beelzemon leapt up and pointed his gun through the hole in the wall. He charged all power into it.
"CHAOS FLARE!!!", shouted Beelzemon. He fired the concentrated beam of energy directly into Armagemon! Lee's eyes widened.
"James! James, hang on!", yelled Lee. Armagemon screamed in incredible pain. Desiree smiled.
"Yes... Yes... die traitor!", shouted Desiree.
"Usually, I don't hit women, but...", said Lee. He slugged Desiree, sending her flying to the floor. He ran over and picked up the chair that hit Ace and raised it above the control console.
"Let's see if this cuts off his power!", shouted Lee. He smashed Desiree's control console, sending sparks flying everywhere. Desiree let out a scream of rage.
"No! You fool! Do you know what you have destroyed! You're going to--", began Desiree, but she was cut off as something emerged from the broken computer.
"What the hell is that!?", asked Nathan."
"A... a Shadow!", gasped Earnest. The small black creature eyed Desiree and flew to her as if it were attracted to her. It embedded itself in her skin and she fell unconscious. All movement stopped. All fighting stopped. Armagemon collapsed to the ground, laying more still than Desiree. Lee ran over to him, as Beelzemon ran to Desiree.
"James! James... speak to me man!", shouted Lee. Armagemon looked at him, weakly.
"Lee... I'm sorry I couldn't... be your... friend...", choked Armagemon. Suddenly, Armagemon split into the forms of Keramon and James. Both were crumpled up and... dead.
"Dead... he's d-dead...?", gasped Nathan.
"Oh my god...", sighed Ace. "This is... that's... horrible..."
The three of them were almost in tears, never having experienced a death in person before... they are only kids you know.
Earnest however, was more interested in the creature that attacked Desiree. He was wondering what effects it would have on her.
"It was classified as a Possess Shadow... I wonder if it did it's job...", he said, looking at Desiree. Beelzemon pointed his gun at Earnest. Then changed it and pointed his gun at the wall into the other room and blew a hole in it.
"Leave. All of you. Before I destroy you. I'm giving you this one chance... now take it!", shouted Beelzemon. Lee wiped his tears away and nodded, as did Nathan and Ace. Earnest followed them, though still occupied with thinking about Shadow activity.
They saw Arik, Allison, Alex and Kevin waiting for them, with the laptop properly connected to the control console and ready to transport them all!
"Let's go... to the Desolate Server...", said Lee, sadly. (James, you will be avenged. For as soon as our partners are back... Desiree is mine.)
-------------------------