Digimon.EXE 3

By Wolf O'Donnell

WARNING! May contain Alternative Universe situations and out-of-character experiences. Upon reading this, you hereby agree that you forfeit all your rights to sue me and that I cannot be held liable for any psychological or physical damage caused by the fact that I use British English spelling and that this fanfic contains NO graphic depictions of a heterosexual and homosexual nature. Digimon is copyrighted by Bandai and Toei Animation Ltd. Wolf O'Donnell is copyrighted by Nintendo Ltd, although that might have nothing to do with the fanfic. Digimon.EXE 3 is based on Rockman.EXE, which is copyrighted by Capcom Ltd. Constructive criticism is very welcome.
P.S. Lyrics are from "What I'm Made Of" by "Crush 40".

* * * * *

File 21: Negai Kanaeru Kagi - (The Key to Granting Wishes)

Gallantmon leapt back, avoiding the missiles the MegaGargomon clone fired at him. It was clear to him that DAEMON was quite good at assimilating the attributes of whatever it absorbed. Well, it would take more than copying others attacks to defeat him. Gallantmon aimed his lance and then let rip with a bolt of electricity, which blew the head straight off the gelatinous MegaGargomon double.
The Sakuyamon clone leapt straight at him, thrusting the pointed end of its staff straight at Gallantmon.
He would have dodged, but this Sakuyamon clone was every bit as fast as the original. His armour cracked, as the staff went through and buried into his arm. Gallantmon winced in pain, gritting his teeth. He would not cry out. No, he would not. Not even when he lashed out and grabbed the Sakuyamon clone's gelatinous head with a hand. With a contraction of his fingers, he crushed its head and watched as the red mass splatter to the floor.
"That was easier than I thought," commented Gallantmon between gasps for air.
As if in response to his comment, more gelatinous clones of Sakuyamon and MegaGargomon appeared. There was a whole army of them and they looked as if they would be able to tear him apart in nanoseconds.
"DigiModify— Hyper Speed activate!"
The army of MegaGargomon and Sakuyamon clones rushed him. With the Hyper Speed DMD activated, Gallantmon leapt straight at them and started slashing away at them with his lance, tearing them up and sending red gelatinous debris flying through the air. He was like a self-propelled blender and was not going to rest until he had turned these clones into digital puree.
One of the clones broke into several tentacles that lashed out at Gallantmon like strands of rope. They wrapped around his neck, squeezing and trying to choke the life out of him, as more ensnared his arms and his legs and his torso and his head. The red gelatinous mass on the floor began to ripple and DAEMON oozed up the metallic armour, slowly engulfing Gallantmon's body bit by bit.
Two beams of light burst out of DAEMON, punching two holes through its body. DAEMON screeched in pain and shuddered, before collapsing to the ground, its entire mass splashing against the floor. The beams of light smashed through each of the clones, smashing them apart, before landing on the ground carefully beside him. They glowed and then took shape, as DAEMON rose back up from the floor, bubbling upwards like a geyser of water.
"You okay, Gallantmon, Takato?" asked Jenrya from within MegaGargomon.
Gallantmon moaned, as he turned.
"Did someone get the serial number of that compression program?" groaned Gallantmon, as he tried to sit up. He blinked and then he saw MegaGargomon and then Sakuyamon. "Hey! You guys... but... how? How'd you escape?"
"Doesn't matter now," replied Sakuyamon, as she spread her arms and surrounded them with a forcefield. "There, that should keep DAEMON at bay for now." That was when DAEMON fired a beam from the middle of its head, which struck her forcefield. It cracked under the pressure. "Or maybe not." She turned to face Gallantmon and it was then that she realised what she had to do. "Gallantmon, I'm not strong enough to continue, but I can give you my strength before I log out. Perhaps it will be enough to shift you into your Grani-style."
DAEMON attacked again, but this time, Sakuyamon was ready for it. She braced herself and then attacked with her Amethyst Wind. It blew at DAEMON and although it did not seem to hurt it, her attack seemed to stun it at least and stop it in its tracks.
MegaGargomon remained silent for a while.
"Yeah, it's the only way," he agreed with a nod of his head. "We're too weak right now, but if we give you our powers, you'll be able to defeat DAEMON for sure!"
"No, I couldn't possibly..." began Gallantmon in protest, but then he saw the determined look on their faces. Even within, Takato was saying that it was the only way. "Okay, then. If it's the only way to defeat DAEMON, then I guess I'll have to, won't I?" He sighed. "Okay, I'm ready."
Both MegaGargomon and Sakuyamon glowed with a brilliant light. MegaGargomon's was green and Sakuyamon's was blue. They became like spheres of light and divided into two. The spheres of light, blue and green, flew towards Gallantmon and merged with him, as MegaGargomon split up into Jenrya and Terriermon, and Sakuyamon split up into Ruki and Renamon. All four of them then logged out, disappearing in bright data streams.
"Good luck," Gallantmon heard Ruki say to him, followed by good luck wishes from the rest of them.
There was suddenly a brilliant flash of light and Gallantmon's cape became a pair of white wings. His armour turned red and he shifted into his Grani-style, the same style he had used to fight against the Juggernaut Virus and Malo2. He was twice as powerful now, maybe even four times as powerful.

I don't care what you're thinking, as you turn to me.
'Cause what I have in my two hands is enough to set me free! (Set me free!)
I can fight the feelin' to resist it over time!
But when it's just too much to take, you sneak up from behind!

Gallantmon stood up on his feet.
"You ready for this, Takato?" he asked his Operator, brother and friend.
From within, Takato smiled. Now he was truly one with Gallantmon a Digimon whom was his brother reborn in digital form. Together, they would be unstoppable. Not even DAEMON could withstand their power, surely.
"Yeah," he replied with a nod of his head. "Let's go and kick his butt!"

Is it me - you say! - you're looking for?!
Let me show you who I am and what I'm here for! (Here for!)

The red armoured Digimon began to glow with a brilliant white light, before taking off into the air and flying straight at DAEMON. Gallantmon, Grani-style, saw every attack coming. He dodged the robotic arms and each bullet that DAEMON fired at him.

Try to reach inside of me!
Try to drain my energy!
Let me show you just WHAT - I'M - MADE - OF!
Simple curiosity!
Try to take a bite of me!
Let me show you just WHAT - I'M - MADE - OF - NOW!

Human and Digimon, joined together, wrapped up as one entity, flew straight at DAEMON dodging each of the monstrosity's attacks. Then with one final burst of speed and one battlecry, Gallantmon flew straight into DAEMON's gelatinous body, punching a hole straight through the red mass.
DAEMON wobbled and shrieked, as Gallantmon flew inside its body and then burst out from the top of its head. There was a terrifying shriek as DAEMON exploded, scattering bits of its red mass all over the place. Yet it was not over. The battle was far from over and Gallantmon, and Takato within him, knew that. The red mass that covered the floor began to bulge and DAEMON rose up again without a single scratch on its gelatinous body.
"So, back for more, huh?" taunted Gallantmon, as he turned round to face DAEMON.
A huge needle appeared and poked out of its body. A huge fiery inferno flew out from the needle and straight at Gallantmon. The Digimon flew around it, as he charged straight at DAEMON. The fire turned into a geyser of water, but this did not stop Gallantmon. It turned into a bolt of electricity that struck Gallantmon and shocked him.
Every muscle program within Gallantmon was suddenly paralysed from the shock. He couldn't move and it was costing him dearly. Already, he had less than five minutes to destroy DAEMON and thus save the Digital World. Being paralysed severely dampened his chances of victory over the prototype Internet program.
"Come on, Gallantmon!" cried Takato through the pain he was feeling. "We've got to do this! We've got to win!"

Like a million faces, I've recognized them all.
And one by one they've all become a number as they fall. (As they fall!)
In the face of reason, oh, I can't take no more!
One by one they've all become a black mark on the floor!

Gallantmon suddenly glowed more brightly. His brilliant aura flared up like a flame, as he spread his arms.
"Is that the best you've got!" taunted Gallantmon, before he fired a powerful beam of white energy straight at DAEMON, followed by another and another and five more.
Each beam of energy struck DAEMON's body, pushing back the gelatinous red mass in an attempt to reveal the Kernel underneath. One, two three, and after the fourth beam of energy, the Kernel was uncovered. The fifth to eighth beams of energy struck the Kernel one after another, elicitating a shriek of pain from DAEMON, making it thrash about in agony.
One of DAEMON's robotic arms flew straight at Gallantmon.
It missed, as Gallantmon flew around it. He flew towards DAEMON, building up more speed as he did. Speed was of the essence. He had to be fast enough to burst straight through DAEMON. The monster opened fire, sending a stream of bullets heading straight at him. Gallantmon dodged each one as quickly as the bullets themselves. He fired a beam of white energy as he flew, hitting one of the machine gun barrels and blowing it up.
"No way!" protested Takato, as he and Gallantmon saw the destroyed machine gun barrel reform.

Is it me - you say! - you're looking for?!
Let me show you who I am and what I have in store! (In store!)

One of DAEMON's six eyes flashed on and then off. A second repeated that and then a third. The eyes began flashing one after another, before one eye remained on and then a second and so forth until all eyes glowed brightly. A split appeared down the middle of the golden mask and it slid apart in either direction. A huge beam of energy flew out from DAEMON's head and straight at Gallantmon.
Fortunately, Gallantmon saw it coming. He stopped and fired a powerful beam of energy straight at DAEMON's beam. Their two beams of energy smashed into each other and pulsed against the other, like two geyers of water aimed at each other. Yet one beam of energy was far more powerful than the other and it pulsed against the other, pushing it back. It suddenly surged forwards and Gallantmon had to fly out of its way.
With a battle cry, Gallantmon flew straight back at DAEMON. A robotic arm lashed out at him, but he swerved sideways. He inhaled sharply and then flew straight into DAEMON's gelatinous body. Seconds later, he burst out of DAEMON's head and its entire structural integrity collapsed.
Yet, it still wasn't over. Gallantmon flew upwards and watched as DAEMON rose up again from the floor fully intact and seemingly fully healed. He could sense that DAEMON had not healed, however. His new method of attack was working against the monstrosity.
DAEMON began to bubble and ripple. It bulged in the middle of its body, as if a cancerous mass was growing there. This cancerous growth began to change shape and took on the shape of Gardromon. The Gardromon-shaped mass aimed its arm at Gallantmon and fired a huge rocket towards the knight Digimon, before it shrank and returned to DAEMON's main body.
The rocket was not enough to stop Gallantmon. He swung his sword at the rocket at the last moment, slicing the missile in half.
"You're next, DAEMON!" he cried out to the rogue program. Gallantmon cried out and then fired a beam of pure white energy straight at the monstrosity's red body. He was amazed to see a hole appear in DAEMON's body and that his attack went straight through the hole without harming DAEMON at all. "No way!"

Try to reach inside of me!
Try to drain my energy!
Let me show you just WHAT - I'M - MADE - OF!
Simple curiosity!
Try to take a bite of me!
Let me show you just WHAT - I'M - MADE - OF - NOW!

A new bulge formed in DAEMON's body and this one took on the shape of a Kabuterimon. It fired a huge beam of electricity at Gallantmon, which was quick enough to strike the Digimon.
As the electricity paralysed Gallantmon's body, Takato realised something. Though he was one with Gallantmon and though he could feel the pain, the sting of the attack did not cloud his mind in agony. He could still think clearly. DAEMON was taking on the forms of Hypnos Digimon and using their attacks against him. Takato wasn't sure how it was doing it, but he knew what to expect now.
DAEMON fired his left arm straight at Gallantmon, its razor sharp pincers pointed straight at the knight Digimon. It hit the still paralysed Gallantmon and knocked him out of the way.
Red tentacles spurted up from the DAEMON-covered floor and lashed out at Gallantmon, ensnaring every part of his body. It pulled him down and towards DAEMON. The red mass enveloped Gallantmon, restricting his movements, washing over him like water over a heavy stone. He was drowning in the red mass, as it attempted to devour him like it had done to Beelzemon and Yamaki.
"No, I won't be your next meal!" shouted Gallantmon, as he struggled against DAEMON. "You hear me, DAEMON? I won't let you devour me or Takato!" He roared and began to glow more intensely than he had ever done in his life. His entire aura, his passion for life, his brotherly love for Takato, all of them flared up within him. Gallantmon screamed again and the air around him shimmered and erupted away from his body, pushing DAEMON's red mass backwards.

You can take another life - long - try!
You can take another try!

Another bulge appeared in DAEMON's body. This one took the shape of Arukenimon and it leered hideously at the knight Digimon below it, before inhaling and breathing out an acidic mist down at Gallantmon.
The armoured Digimon flew straight upwards as quickly as he could before the mist could reach him. Though he was far more powerful than he had ever been in his entire life, he wasn't completely invincible. There was a limit to his power and if he didn't hurry, that limit would soon be gone.
"You think that copying other Digimon's attacks will help you?" he shouted at DAEMON. "Well, guess what? It won't!" He fired a powerful beam of energy straight at the Arukenimon-shaped bulge in DAEMON's body and blasted it apart.
DAEMON sceamed in agony and writhed in pain. It turned its machine guns on Gallantmon and opened fire, spraying bullets in his general direction.
Gallantmon flew above and under the bullets. None of them hit him. He flew straight at DAEMON in the hope that he would be able to get another hit in. If he wounded DAEMON enough, its structural integrity would collapse completely and the program would end up being deleted. That was his hope and he needed to be quick, if he was to find out if he was correct about DAEMON.
The exterior of DAEMON's body began to bulge again and this time it took on the shape of Sandyanmamon. The bulge inhaled and then exhaled. Instead of the usual sand that usually erupted from Sandyanmamon, red tentacles erupted from the Sandyanmamon's mouth and hurtled straight at Gallantmon.
The Digimon drew his sword and swung it at the tentacles, as he flew straight at DAEMON. He sliced clean through each one unrelentlessly, before he aimed his sword point first at DAEMON and flew straight into the body with such force that he went straight through.
Once more, DAEMON's entire body exploded, sending red sludge flying all over. Once again, a bulge appeared in the red gelatinous mass on the floor and reformed DAEMON.
Gallantmon turned round to face the monstrosity.
"Man, you just take a licking and keep on ticking, don't you?" he exclaimed, although he had a sneaking suspicion that it was Takato that said it and not him. He then saw a needle erupt from DAEMON's body. "Oh, you're trying that old trick, huh? Well, it won't work!" Gallantmon fired a powerful beam of energy down at DAEMON and it struck the needle, snapping it in two.
That was, however, only a decoy. DAEMON's mask split open and a powerful energy beam flew out of it and clipped Gallantmon's wings. He fell. It fired its robotic arms at Gallantmon. The left arm missed, but the right arm connected with Gallantmon and sent the knight Digimon flying into the ground.
The red mass once again tried to devour Gallantmon. It crept over his body and had the consistency of melted chocolate being poured into a vat. He tried his best to break free. Gallantmon struggled to get back to his feet, yet DAEMON's hold on him was terrible. It stuck to him like chewing gum on the sole of a shoe and clung on with a tenacity that the Digimon had never seen before.
Gallantmon looked up at DAEMON and then decided on an action.
"Not this time, DAEMON," he said sternly, as he cupped his hands. "You're going down!" he roared, as he fired the largest, most powerful beam of energy he had ever produced in his life.

Try to reach inside of me!
Try to drain my energy!
Let me show you just WHAT - I'M - MADE - OF!
Simple curiosity!
Try to take a bite of me!
Let me show you just WHAT - I'M - MADE - OF - NOW!

The beam surged forwards and smashed into DAEMON's body. It pulsed against the gelatinous mass and pushed back, nudging its way towards DAEMON's Kernel. The beam of energy struggled against the red mass, surging forwards in an unrelentless march. Suddenly, it broke through, piercing DAEMON, erupting out from the other side.
There was suddenly a shriek from the monstrous program, as its entire mass quivered like jello. Its pulsating grip on Gallantmon loosened.
The red mass that had been clinging on to Gallantmon, flowed off his body, sliding off his armour and dripping down to the floor. He tore free from the DAEMON-covered ground and flew straight up towards the huge hole in the creature.
"This one's for the Digital World!" he cried out, as he flew straight through the hole and and at the exposed Kernel of DAEMON.

Try to reach inside of me! (Let me show you what I'm made of)
Try to drain my energy! (Let me show you what I'm made of)
Let me show you just WHAT - I'M - MADE - OF- NOW!

Seconds later, the hole closed around Gallantmon, engulfing the Digimon. It seemed as if the Digimon had lost. DAEMON had won against the Digital World's only saviour.
DAEMON shrieked again, as Gallantmon burst back out of the gelatinous mass that was the prototype Internet. Its Kernel shattered and then there was silence.
All this time, the red mass, which covered the floors and made up DAEMON's body, had been pulsing and beating like a living heart. It stopped. The entire thing stopped. The robotic arms, the machine gun barrel and the mask all cracked and shattered. DAEMON shuddered one last time before it collapsed and fell like water to the floor.
Gallantmon laughed.
"We did it!" he cried. "Takato, we did it!"
"Yeah, we did!" agreed Takato joyfully.
Suddenly, the entire place began rumbling. Cracks suddenly appeared all over the sky. The Hypnos symbols which floated in it, stopped moving. The thing looked like a wallpaper more than a screensaver and bits of it were falling. It seemed that the entire Hypnos computer network was breaking apart.
"We've got to get out of here," suggested Takato. "Okay, log out!" Nothing happened. "Log out!"
"It's no use," protested Gallantmon. "We have to return to where we first logged in." He then turned tail and flew straight back to where they had first entered the computer network.
It wasn't easy as huge chunks of unidentifiable mass were falling from the sky and crashing into the floor at random intervals. Some parts of the floor gave way and collapsed completely, making it impossible for Gallantmon to fly over it. He dodged these skilfully, not relenting, not slowing down for anything.
The red mass on the floor began to twitch. Tentacles burst out from the red mass and suddenly enveloped Gallantmon. Each one grabbed on to him, wrapping around every part of his body and restricting his movements. They pulled him down and sucked him into the red mass, covering him completely and absorbing him.
Gallantmon struggled against DAEMON. He knew what was going on. DAEMON was incredibly weak now and was attempting to absorb his life energy, to absorb him and become strong enough to escape the collapsing computer system. In doing so, he would take away Gallantmon's life and more importantly, Takato's life.
"No, it can't end this way!" he cried, as he raged against the red mass that enveloped him and covered him. "It just can't!"
"Try blasting our way out!" suggested Takato.
"No, I can't," sighed Gallantmon with a shake of his head. "I used up most of my energy in defeating DAEMON." He sighed again and then he realised something. "I'm sorry, Takato," he apologised to his Operator. "I have to do this."
Takato suddenly felt a lump form in his throat. This was beginning to seem very familiar.
"Do what?" he asked fearfully.
"I'll self-destruct," replied Gallantmon calmly. "The energy'll be enough to blast you out of DAEMON and out of the Digital World." He shook his head. "I'm sorry, Takato. Goodbye."
"Wait, no, don't do it!" protested Takato.
It was too late.

* * * * *

"Takato!" cried a voice. "Takato!"
Slowly, Takato felt a shaking sensation. He opened his eyes and saw Jenrya shaking him. His eyes saw his surroundings and he suddenly knew that he was back in the Digital World.
"Gallantmon!" exclaimed Takato all of a sudden. He reached out for his D-Tector and plucked it out of its port, before pressing a few buttons, opening up the lid and looking at the screen. "No..."
"Takato, we don't have time for this," protested Ruki sternly. "The entire base is falling apart. We've got to get out of here before the place blows up with us in it!"
Jenrya turned his head to look at the chair where Yamaki had once been. The old man was gone, perhaps, he had escaped, but Jenrya couldn't be sure.
"Yeah, we'd better go," he agreed with a nod of his head. He then grabbed Takato's hand, while Ruki grabbed the other and hoisted Takato out of the chair. "Come on!"
"But we can't go back to the shuttle!" protested Takato.
"Yes we can," retorted Ruki, as she ran ahead of him, dragging him along with her.
In front of them was the shuttle, which someone had rammed through the wall of the space base. Perhaps that's why the place was falling to bits. Well, no matter. They got on quickly and the doors closed.
As the shuttle moved and slid out of the space base, Takato looked around him. He noticed that everyone was there, including the soldiers they had left behind. Even Reiley and the treacherous soldier were there. Only Gallantmon wasn't with them.
He neither felt the explosion of the Hypnos Base nor saw the brilliant flash. Sound cannot travel through space, so he couldn't have heard the explosion even if he tried. Yet he could not feel the results of the explosion, as metallic debris hit the shuttle, nor could he see the flash through the shuttle's windows.
All Takato could see and hear and feel and taste and smell was sorrow. His Digimon was no more.

To be continued...