Digimon.EXE 3

By Wolf O'Donnell

Author's Note: If at this point in the story you think that DAEMON is a Digimon, then you are mistaken. In the Digimon.EXE Universe, DAEMON is not and has never been a Digimon.
P.S. On another note, the last three chapters will be delayed until a midi version of the Final Boss Battle Theme from Megaman Battle Network 3 has been sequenced. There will be no more updates henceforth until that midi has been sequenced, properly.

* * * * *

File 18: Chigau Boku ga Iru – (There's Another Me)

Gallantmon charged straight at her and they swung their swords straight at each other. There was a clash, as they rushed past each other. They stopped on either side, their backs to the other. Both remained motionless. Both remained as still as statues. Silence filled the air, suffocating all that watched. Silence and stillness. Nothing stirred. Nothing made a sound. It was blindingly still and deafening silent. One fell. One was deleted. One remained standing. One was victorious.

* * * * *

Yamaki looked up at the glass sphere, his back turned to the entrance of the great hall he stood in.
"It's finally completed," he said with a smug smile on his face. He turned round to his desk and switched off the laptop. "Soon, my dreams shall be fulfilled." Yamaki turned and walked up the steps to the Biofeedback Chair installed into the gigantic machine behind him, in which DAEMON was now stored. "Digipocalypse shall befall the world and the Digital Society shall finally be destroyed!"
There was a loud bang, as of doors being flung open violently.
"I don't think so, Yamaki."
There were many things that Yamaki hated. There was the beeping of the D-Tectors and of computers. There was the Digital Society itself, all those people using the Digital World that his rival had invented. There were the Officials, whom had rejected his ideas for BioEmerging. Yet only one thing made him even more angry than all of those things put together.
"So, you've arrived," stated Yamaki through clenched teeth, as he turned round to face Takato and friends. "So, Matsuda, have you come to stop me again?" He laughed, his entire body shaking from manic laughter, and the roar of his laughter echoing all around them. "Who do you think you are to come here and prevent DAEMON's Awakening? DAEMON is far older than you are, children. It has seen many things that you wouldn't be able to dream of."
Though sunglasses hid his eyes, it was apparent from the look on his face that he had indeed gone clearly off the deep end, even more so than last time.
"When DAEMON is awakened, he shall spread across the Digital World and devour everything!" chortled Yamaki. "He will eat it all up! Delete! Ha, ha, ha! Delete! He will delete it all!"
"Not if we have anything to say about it," retorted Jenrya. "We're going to log in our Digimon and delete DAEMON, just like we did with your Juggernaut Virus."
A smug smile spread across Yamaki's face, as he stood there in front of his Biofeedback Chair.
"Oh, will you really?" exclaimed Yamaki in surprise. "Tell me, children. How will you do that? Look around you. Do you see any Log In Ports? Do you see anything that you can connect your blasted D-Tectors to?" He sat down in the Biofeedback Chair. "There is nothing you can do to stop me now, children. Nothing." Yamaki lowered the Biofeedback Headset over his head. "Digiport open! Jack in!"
"You won't get away with this, Yamaki!" shouted Takato, but it was too late. Yamaki would not listen and could not listen.
"What are we going to do?" wondered Jenrya. "If we can't log in, then how can we delete DAEMON?"
Ruki looked carefully around her. She could see that the laptop was not connected to the machine in which Yamaki was using, but the Biofeedback Headsets were.
"We could go ourselves," she said, as she made her way to a chair.
"Are you nuts?" cried Jenrya, as he ran after her. "We can't do that!" He thought about how Dr. Merzuno had nearly died using that machine. One of the things he didn't want was to end up the same way. "It can't be safe, surely?" He watched as she sat down in the machine and looked around her. "Hey, are you listening?" Jen turned round and saw that Takato had taken a seat himself. "Takato!"
"Ruki's right," said Takato, as he watched Ruki slot her D-Tector into the arm of her chair. "This is the only we can stop Yamaki. I only hope that Beelzemon isn't with him." He pressed a few buttons on his D-Tector, returning Gallantmon to his original settings and then looked around and saw a slot for himself. Takato put his D-Tector into it.
"They're right, Jenrya," said MegaGargomon from his D-Tector. "It's the only way."
Jenrya sighed.
"Et tu, MegaGargomon?" he asked his Digimon. He looked at the other two and then sighed. "Oh, all right." He sat down in one chair and connected his D-Tector, before lowering the Headset and connecting himself. "Digiport open! Jack in!"

* * * * *

Takato looked around, as he glowed with a slightly red aura. He was in the Digital World and it looked so strange. The sky was black with the Hypnos symbol floating in it and he stood on something... sticky.
"What is this stuff?" he wondered out loud, as he looked down at the floor. It was red, purple and gel-like. It reminded him of... "This looks like the stuff that D-Bug was made out of."
"Yeah," agreed Gallantmon with a nod of his head, as he looked around him. "It's pretty disgusting."
"Is that an eye?" exclaimed Ruki, as she pointed down at the floor. She herself glowed with a slightly blue aura.
It took two more seconds for Takato to suddenly realise that he was standing right next to his Digimon. Though he technically wasn't physically there, the Biofeedback Headset made it seem as if he really was down to the minutest detail.
"Wow, it's so good to see you like this, face to face," he told his Digimon. "Man, I never would have thought we'd see each other like this. You look better in real life than you do on the screen of a D-Tector."
Something was wrong. Where had he heard those words from and why did they sound so familiar?
"It's nice to see you like this too," agreed Gallantmon with a nod of his helmet-clad head.
Two data streams suddenly appeared and brought Jenrya and MegaGargomon to the Digital World.
Ruki smiled, as she crossed her arms.
"It's about time you got here, Jenrya," she told the dark-haired youth. "So, shall we get moving?"
"Let's," agreed Jenrya with a nod of his head, "but first, we've got to Biomerge like Arukenimon and Reiley did."
Takato smiled. That seemed pretty cool. Now he would be even closer to his Digimon, to his former brother, than he ever would have been in real life.
"Okay, Gallantmon, let's do this," he said to his Digimon. "Biomerge activate!" Seconds later, he found himself actually inside his Digimon, looking through Gallantmon's eyes. "Wow, this is amazing!" His voice sounded like Guilmon and his own, both speaking at the same time.
"There's no time for all that," stated MegaGargomon sternly. His voice sounded like a combination of Jenrya's and Terriermon's. "We've got to get going. If this is DAEMON, then we'd better stop Yamaki before he awakens this thing."

Already, three of the four Seals on DAEMON had been destroyed and absorbed by Beelzemon. There was only one left, the seal of the Red Phoenix.
Yamaki stood back with a grin on his face. He knew what would happen next when the last seal was destroyed. It would be the awakening of the Great Beast, DAEMON.
"Well, what are you waiting for?" asked Yamaki impatiently. "Go ahead and destroy the last seal. Absorb its powers and you shall become the most powerful being in the entire Digital World... no, scratch that. You'll become the most powerful being ever!"
Beelzemon turned to face the old man. He suspected something and he smelt a rat.
"And why should you care?" asked the Digimon. "Don't you know what my dreams are? They're to destroy the human race. What with you being a human, I would have thought you'd not want that."
Yamaki laughed at Beelzemon's comment.
"I don't care what happens to the human race, as long as my dreams of destroying the Digital Society are fulfilled," was his reply to Beelzemon. "Now do you or do you not want to become stronger?"
"Stop!" cried out Gallantmon, as he ran ahead of the others. "Don't you dare destroy that Seal!"
"Do it!" cried Yamaki. "Do it now or they'll absorb it for you!"
Beelzemon agreed with Dr. Yamaki on that point. If he did not absorb the power of the last Seal, then they would and he didn't want that. He lashed out with his sharp claws and smashed the seal, before absorbing its digital data into his body. Beelzemon floated back off the floor, laughing as he did so.
"Yes! Yes!" he cried. "I can feel it! The Power of the Four Seals flow within me. Now I have enough power to destroy all those that get in my way and their own worlds if I have to!" He laughed out insanely, as black wings spread out from his back.
The red goo on the floor began to beat like a living heart, but no one noticed.
The powerful Digimon then looked down on the three that stood in front of him.
"Now behold my true power, you pitiful fools," announced Beelzemon with a great flourish. He laughed out loud, as he brought out his two guns, aiming it at Gallantmon. "Let's play." Beelzemon then opened fire.
All three Digimon ran out of the way, the bullets crashing against the reddened floor.
MegaGargomon leapt up at Beelzemon and lashed out with his fist. He hit Beelzemon's UltraBarrier but was unable to penetrate it. The Digimon saw Beelzemon whirl round and aim at him. Two bullets hit him in the chest and MegaGargomon fell down to the ground.
Beelzemon put away his guns and then dived down at MegaGargomon, lashing out at the Digimon with his claws. His attack was blocked suddenly by Gallantmon's round shield. He roared out angrily and kicked out at the shield with such force that it sent Gallantmon flying backwards. The black, leather-clad Digimon then drew a pentagram in the air with one clawed finger, leaving a red trail of energy in his finger's wake.
He grinned toothily, as he then placed his hands against the symbol.
"Oh, don't worry, I haven't forgotten about you," he told Gallantmon. "Here, why don't you have this Corona Blaster?" His hands glowed a brilliant red and a beam of red energy flew out from the symbol he drew.
Gallantmon grabbed MegaGargomon, slinging his arm over his shoulder, before he leapt out of the way.
The Corona Blaster struck the ground, breaking a hole straight through it and DAEMON. Moments later, the red goop that made up DAEMON flowed back and healed the hole.
Gallantmon and MegaGargomon landed beside Sakuyamon. She created a protective forcefield around her, hoping that Beelzemon wasn't powerful enough to crack it.
Beelzemon laughed at them. It seemed absurd that such Digimon, who were clearly weaker than him, should continue fighting against him.
"Is that the best you can do?" he asked them. The Digimon was clearly enjoying this. "You've gotta be kidding me!" He laughed, as he lashed out at Sakuyamon's forcefield and cracked it with one blow. "You shouldn't even be here fighting against me. You pitiful weaklings! All of you should be destroyed along with your human Operators!"
"Come on, let's attack him together!" suggested Gallantmon, as he leapt at Beelzemon. The others followed suit.
"Amethyst Wind!"
"Lightning Joust!"
"Mega Missile!"
To Sakuyamon's surprise, her Amethyst Wind blew away Beelzemon's UltraBarrier in an instant. That meant Gallantmon's attack and MegaGargomon's attack went past the forcefield and struck Beelzemon unhindered.
"All right!" she exclaimed, as she heard a scream from Beelzemon.
When the smoke from the attacks cleared, it was apparant that Beelzemon had sustained quite some damage but it still looked as if he was capable of taking a million more direct hits before he would fall. There was an angry look on his face, though. He couldn't have believed it. No other Digimon, with the exception of one of the Four Guardians, had been able to break his UltraBarrier. Even that had been a close fight and the Guardian had nearly been deleted.
"How is this possible?" called out Beelzemon in disbelief. "Before, you couldn't even break my UltraBarrier without using a Combo, but now!" He couldn't understand it. "Well, even if you are stronger now, you won't be able to defeat me! I am the strongest Digimon ever created and none can defeat me! Corona Blaster!"
The three Digimon scattered, dodging the Corona Blaster attack.
Gallantmon leapt towards Beelzemon and thrust his lance straight at the black-clad Digimon. He hit Beelzemon and swung again. This time, he missed as Beelzemon floated back. He raised his shield quickly, blocking Beelzemon fist.
"Enough is enough!" cried Beelzemon, as he whipped his two guns out. "Multiple Impact!" He opened fire, shooting bullets and sending them flying at each Digimon.
One of the bullets hit MegaGargomon in the head, catching him off balance. He fell and crashed straight into the floor.
"Ew!" exclaimed MegaGargomon, as he got up. "This stuff is nasty!" He was suddenly hit in the back by Beelzemon's claws and a roundhouse kick in the head suddenly sent the Digimon flying back. MegaGargomon crashed landed to the ground.
"Come on, MegaGargomon!" called out Jenrya from within him. "You can do better than that. Here, follow my lead."
"How?" asked MegaGargomon, but was suddenly surprised as he leapt up to his feet without even trying. He suddenly realised that Jenrya was in control of his body. "Jen, do you think it's wise for you to...?" he began, but was cut off when he suddenly charged straight at Beelzemon.
MegaGargomon leapt in the air and performed a roundhouse kick of his own that connected with Beelzemon's chest and sent him flying backwards. He then flew straight at his opponent and flung a few punches, which were blocked by Beelzemon's arms. When Beelzemon lashed out at him, MegaGargomon grabbed Beelzemon by the wrist and used Beelzemon's own momentum to throw the Digimon over his shoulder.
Beelzemon did not land on the floor. He merely floated above it and stood up. The Digimon watched as MegaGargomon flung a punch at him, but it never reached his face. His UltraBarrier had returned. He laughed and then opened fire on MegaGargomon, firing bullet after bullet into the Digimon's armoured chest.
"Amethyst Wind!"
Sakuyamon watched as her special technique blew Beelzemon's UltraBarrier away for a second time.
"Hey, Beelzemon!" she shouted at him, getting his attention, before she launched her Spirit Strike against him. It was a direct hit! "Now!" she called out to Gallantmon.
"Shield of the Just!"
"Spirit Strike!"
Their two attacks flew through the air and struck Beelzemon directly in the chest, sending him flying backwards.
Beelzemon couldn't understand how they had become so powerful in such a short space of time. Granted, their attacks were more powerful than he had anticipated, but he still had a few tricks under his sleeves. He smiled toothily, as he raised his arm into the air. His fist began to glow brightly.
"You think you can come here, toss a few attacks and be done with it?" he laughed at them, as he charged up for a powerful attack. "I don't think so! Multiple Impact!" He spread his arms out and sent several bolts of energy flying outwards from him in a highly unpredictable pattern.
Yamaki smiled and clapped his hands slowly.
"It's not over yet."
Beelzemon and Yamaki turned round and saw Gallantmon staggering back to his feet.
"What?" exclaimed Beelzemon in disbelief. "You survived that?"
Gallantmon smiled, not that Beelzemon would have seen it underneath his helmet. Takato smiled too.
"Yeah," he replied, sounding like himself and Takato all in one. "Not only that, we're going to kick your digital butt, Beelzemon." He pointed his lance straight at his opponent. "You ready for it?"
Beelzemon smiled.
"Yeah," he replied, "I'm ready."

To be continued...