A/N: No, I'm not dead, I'm still alive and kicking. I didn't plan for this story to be updated on a monthly basis, but with all my AP/Senior/College things going on, I've barely had time to think, let alone write. I am sorry about the lack of action so far, but hopefully, this chapter and the next will make up for it. I also corrected the grammar errors in the previous chapter, thank you Exoduss for making me aware of them. I'm ashamed that they managed to evade me. The only unchanged thing is the spelling of LadyDevimon's name, which I just happen to prefer as it is. Originally, this chapter was far larger, so large in fact that I decided to split it into two parts. I thought one chapter with close to eight thousand words was a bit of an eyesore and would have grown boring. The preview from the last chapter will in fact take place in the next, which will be uploaded in a few days. In both parts of this chapter, there is a bit of gore, just to forewarn. Other than that, enjoy this chapter; things are just starting to heat up.
Chapter 4: Shattered-Part I
The time had finally come. As shades of various Viruli Digimon whispered and capered, while avoiding the Reapers deadly clutches, Demon reflected upon the coming events.
The news LadyDevimon had continued to return with every instance he sent her on reconnaissance was growing more and more discouraging. Demon was no fool; he knew that sooner or later the four Beasts would eventually grow wise to at least some part of his plans.
In due course, Words began to travel of a group of Ultimate Digimon rulers, chosen by the
Sovereigns and ordered to eliminate Demon at any and all cost. At that very moment , they were most likely sneaking around the outer sanctum of his abyss and encountering the guards he had placed there for protection.
That very thought made the weakened Ultimate laugh. Even the Beasts, with their "unfathomable wisdom," could not foresee the long-range extent of his plotting.
Demon grunted and mentally summoned his minions before him. The heavy air was soon ruptured by the rustling of angelic wings, along with the sounds of bestial growls and calls. A blithe looking LadyDevimon suddenly appeared on Demon's left side, rudely shoving the harried Lobomon and impassive Veliomon, who had materialized seconds before her.
Erinyemon was nowhere to be seen, but that was of no surprise to Demon. The ungrateful Perfect hadn't shown herself in weeks, not since she had been sent to obtain Matsuda Takato. The failure of the capture was most likely the reason she had chosen to stay hidden, rather than face Demon's fearsome wrath against her.
After Demon's mind altering, Veliomon had been reduced to little more than a shell. His mind was completely empty of free will and emotion. He was programmed to obey the will of Demon, to destroy anything that stood before him. The feral Reapers had no choice but to become more controlled, but it was a false containment. The instant they came in contact with any members of humanity, all semblance of control would vanish, leaving only mindless killers that could heal and reform from any wound inflicted upon them.
"Now my servants, is the time that we strike. The humans have been lulled into a false sense of security, which means that our actions against them must be all the more detrimental.
"Lobomon," Demon then turned to the Beast Man Digimon. "I will open a portal into the Real World, thereby sending you, Veliomon and the army of Reapers to the chosen location. And as I've removed all thoughts of rebellion from Veliomon's mind and replaced them with those of unconditional servitude, he must be protected at all times. Do not forget that the minds of all the Reapers still course within his."
"LadyDevimon will follow you and do what Erinyemon could not, she will return with the Vessel." Demon's eyes flared with an azure glow when he noticed the said Fallen Angel examining her clawed hands, a testament to her obvious boredom. After tensing and ready to release unimaginable pain upon her, Demon hesitated. LadyDevimon was still of use to him and the only real means he had of controlling Piemon.
For the moment, he was in the most insufferable of paradoxes. But in the end, Demon chose to ignore her antics. LadyDevimon's time would come and when it did, he would spare no pain to make her suffer.
"My Lord, won't the effort destroy you?" Lobomon protested, his amber eyes wide with worry.
"Even with the opposition, I have managed to feed." Demon replied offhandedly. "After I send you to the world of the humans, I should have enough power remaining to continue my existence until LadyDevimon returns with the Vessel."
Finally snapping out of her daze, LadyDevimon laughed. "It'll be easy. I'll be back before these losers, no question."
Lobomon snarled at the remark and LadyDevimon smirked at him. Veliomon remained still, obviously not knowing or caring about what went on around him.
This new exercise in childishness finally pushed Demon to the limit. With his eyes glowing with primordial power and fury, he shouted, "Flame Inferno!" Burning flames exploded from his misshapen hands, completely enveloping his lieutenants and drawing shrieks and howls of agony.
Several minutes later, Demon lowered his hands. Wafts of black smoke billowed, until the flapping of LadyDevimon's wings began to disperse it. Once it had cleared completely, the sight of a charred and shaking LadyDevimon and Lobomon were all that remained.
"That was a warning." Demon hissed. "Consider yourselves lucky that I don't throw your carcasses to the Reapers."
Lobomon made an awkward bow, while LadyDevimon tried to nod. She had been shaken so badly that was wasn't sure if she could walk; let alone attempt a bow.
Seemingly satisfied, Demon turned from them. "It is time." He murmured softly. As if to punctuate his words, the room began to fill with a blue haze. LadyDevimon shielded her eyes tightly as mysterious lightening began to crash...
~*~
She was in trouble. Erinyemon was in a very large amount of trouble and she knew it. Though to her, only a few days had passed since she had traveled to the Real World to fetch Matsuda Takato, in Demon's abyss the equivalence of numerous weeks passed.
She had often found herself passing the time in a human graveyard. And despite the malicious urge to desecrate the hallowed ground, Erinyemon had been solemn. But because standing amongst the dead too long gave her a feeling of unease, especially among one particular gravesite, she would then tear herself away the cemetery and return to her other activity, that which consisted of spying upon Takato.
Ever since their fateful meeting and his less than poised refusal, Erinyemon simply could not leave the young Tamer alone. As much as he had infuriated her with his indecorous disregard for the power that Demon commanded and how seeing him in the company of the scrawny
human Makino Ruki made her ill, she still continued her excursions to the Matsuda household.
It was out of sheer curiosity and the need to know the weaknesses of the opponent. Or so Erinyemon kept telling herself.
Erinyemon had seen Takato's reaction to news regarding the immanent destruction of the Digimon he held so dear, by the humans he and his allies worked so rigorously to protect. The fury that was usually tightly bottled had come close to release that day, as he listened to the voice emitted from the phone receiver. But an innocent type of hurt had been exposed as well; one that couldn't understand or believe in such betrayal.
Smiling slightly, Erinyemon shifted position on the glass windowed roof. The naïveté of the young Tamer had not been the solitary thing that had been suffering as of late. He'd begun subtly avoiding those closest to him, spending much of his time with his over-eating excuse for a partner, rather than his friends.
Not that it really matters…Erinyemon reflected contently. Just as long as Ruki-chan and her fleabag don't come and disturb things. I already was unable to convince Takato to surrender to Demon, the last thing I need to do is to "accidentally" kill his little girlfriend. Especially since Demon has already staked a claim upon her soul; upon the souls of all the Tamers.
Erinyemon sighed. I have to go back, not that I'm looking forward to it. Of course, if Demon needed me that badly, he probably would have sent his lapdog Lobomon to drag me back kicking and screaming.
As if her thoughts were given form; the cloudless sky seemed to darken and erupt with crackling lightning. Jumping away quickly, Erinyemon narrowly avoided one of the dangerous blasts as it came crashing down upon the skyscraper she had been vacating.
Flapping her wings hurriedly, the Perfection level Digimon looked towards the sky. The clouds had become malevolent, dark, twisting and almost pulsing with some kind of unimaginable life.
For the first time since her rebirth, Erinyemon was afraid. Something's coming. I guess Lord Demon got tired of waiting and decided to send someone else to come for Takato.
Clenching her fists tightly, Erinyemon growled. Takato was my prey! I was chosen to fetch him, no one else. He may have refused me earlier, but once he sees just how far Demon is willing to go in order to claim him, he'll have no choice but to comply.
Erinyemon smiled wickedly behind her mask. Takato, you're mine. And with a vicious laugh, she flew forward, true evil illuminated by lightening in a darkened sky.
~*~
Standing in near darkness, aside from the glare of the digital grids on the large computer screen beside him, Yamaki Mitsuo felt the great need for a cigarette. Though he was usually in firm control of his habits and their needs, Yamaki could feel the craving gnawing at him as he anxiously flipped the cover of his lighter open and closed in some effort at distraction.
He knew that the stress of things was finally getting to him, he was only human after all. But despite the accepted attempt at self-actualization, Yamaki felt aggravated. His calm demeanor gave nothing away, aside from his heightened tendency to snap at those who wasted his greatly valued time.
Yamaki knew that no matter how bad things became, control had to be maintained in all situations. He had failed to do so with the Shaggai project and the repercussions had been unimaginable. He didn't need to have a repeat performance.
Still, since informing Janyuu of the situation and reaffirming his disregard for his superiors' orders, Yamaki couldn't help but feel like an actor in a clichéd movie of the week.
Grunting lightly at the allusion, Yamaki frowned. He wasn't one to watch much television and found the limited knowledge of the material to be even more so depressing. He stole a quick glance at Reika, who sat opposite Megumi, both women thoroughly engrossed in their duties.
Even her attempts to help me relax have been futile, Yamaki mused. And with good reason.
"I thought you many things, Mitsuo." Daitetsu had said earlier that day, the disapproval clear in his voice. "But I'm afraid a fool was not one of them." Yamaki had remained silent, neither accepting nor denouncing the remark. He had made his decision and no amount of corporate bullying was about to change it.
But even he had been unable to disguise his surprise when, upon his return to the restricted floor in order to obtain some type of useful information, he had encountered two large men in black suits, both carrying handguns.
I'm not sure what disappoints me more. The fact that I was unable to gain any type of information whatsoever about the release of the Armageddon virus, or that Hypnos has become so flagrant with its use of hired guns.
What sounded like a massive explosion interrupted Yamaki's reflections and caused Hypnos to shudder unexpectedly in response.
"What was that?" He queried curtly, doing his best to keep his balance.
"I'm not sure." Reika responded. "I'm getting readings unlike anything I've ever seen before!"
"And I'm picking up mass amounts of data rapidly converging from somewhere within the Digital World." Megumi said loudly as she began typing hastily.
Another massive jolt caused Yamaki to grip the computer consulate tightly as he gazed at the screen. "Deploy the tracers and establish a visual lock."
"I can't. The tracers, the use of Yuggoth and any other means of either detection or deletion have been rendered ineffective." Reika replied despondently. "And with these readings, whatever is trying to enter our world must be unbelievably large. And if it isn't, then it's safe to say that we're dealing with some type of army."
"Bio-emergence is immanent." Megumi responded. "This thing is coming and we have no way to stop it."
This must be it, Yamaki thought furiously. The tip of the iceberg, nothing less than an invasion.
Reika's sudden gasp and the sound of machinery breaking brought Yamaki back to the current problem.
"I…I don't believe this." She muttered with no small measure of astonishment. "The location of the subject's bio-emergence is-
CRASH!
The sound of glass breaking and was heard throughout the room as the large computer screen shattered. Yamaki was thrown backwards by the explosion; a multitude of cuts spread across his face and hands.
"Yamaki!" Reika screamed in alarm.
"I'm fine." Yamaki growled, though the pain in the side of his chest spoke otherwise. "We have to get out of here before the building collapses." He stood shakily, while as Megumi and Reika punched commands into the digital grid, which deactivated and lowered both women to the ground.
The sounds of shrieks and sirens seemed blaring to Yamaki's ears as he impatiently waited. The continued shuddering of the ground would have thrown him to the floor, had Reika not taken one of his arms to steady him.
"Let's go." She was forced to shout over the loud noise. Moving with slight unsteadiness, the three exited the collapsing room and made their way into the already crowded hallway. Screams and screeching, as well as shoving and pushing were the norm as the employees of Hypnos did their best to make their way down the long hallways and to the stairs.
Doing his best to ignore the pain, Yamaki tried to concentrate on the task at hand. So many people had begun to panic, something that such a volatile situation couldn't allow. Almost caught in the mêlée, he struggled to remain as his eyes trailed upon something suspicious.
Moving quickly down one of the branching hallways was Fujitaka Takemoto, a large steel briefcase in hand and an unfamiliar man with bright red hair by his side.
Where exactly do they think they're going? Yamaki mused charily. The main exits were in the opposite direction, why were they going the contrary way? It didn't make sense.
Yamaki stopped moving and nearly knocked into Reika, who was leading the way ahead of him.
"Yamaki?" She sputtered. "What-" She was unable to finish speaking as Yamaki pulled her towards the hallway where Fujitaka had previously been located, while Megumi followed behind them.
"You have to leave me." Yamaki spoke composedly in a tone that should have left no room for argument.
"Sir-" Megumi intoned in astonishment before Reika interrupted her.
"You can't be serious! This entire place could come down on us any minute, we're not going to leave you in here."
Yamaki frowned at her outburst. "You don't have a choice in the matter. I'm giving you both a direct order and I expect it to be followed. There's something I need to do on my own and I rather that the both of you weren't involved in it."
"How you say that?" Reika snapped in outrage. "We are all deeply involved in this and if things are as dangerous as you're making them out to be, then we should be there to help you."
"If anything happens to me, Megumi and yourself are the top technicians that Hypnos has to offer and will no doubt prove to be imperative in fulfilling whatever measures that will need to be undertaken." Yamaki stated coolly. "But I'm hoping that it won't have to come to that."
A sharp rumble and the sound of breaking class caused the three of them to start. "You time is already limited." Shouted Yamaki. "You need to get out of here now, while you still have the chance to do so."
Reika sighed dejectedly. "Your too stubborn for your own good Mitsuo. Since I can't do anything to change your mind, just make sure that you make it out of here in one piece. I'll never forgive you if you don't."
Nodding slightly, Yamaki gave the ghost of a smile. "I'll do my best. The idea of being trapped in here isn't a very appealing one. Both of you be careful."
With those final words, Yamaki turned and ran down the empty hallway. Reika watched him leave dissipatedly and turned when she felt Megumi tugging at her arm. "We have to get out of here!"
Reluctantly, Reika nodded. "Right." The two women made their way back into the main hallway, passing through numerous corridors and descending several stairways. They faced little difficulty, as the building was emptying quickly.
But as they drew closer to the main exit, the sound of bestial snarls and terror-filled screams assaulted them.
"What is that?" Megumi asked, shuddering.
"I don't know." Reika replied. They slowed in their movements, wary of what they would find. As they reached the two glass entranceway doors, both of which were being held shut by masses of women and men. Her curiosity piqued, Reika moved closer. She glanced out a small, uncovered portion of the glass and felt her heart freeze.
Outside the building desolation reigned. Cars, trees and the very ground itself had been torn apart and shattered. But the most terrifying things, aside from the large humanoid wolf that howled directions, were what looked to be multicolored dinosaurs ruthlessly feasting upon several escaped humans.
"Oh my God…" Reika murmured in horror. It was then that one of unknown creatures looked up at her and with a feral screech, began to charge…
~*~
The last thing Lee Jenrya expected was to be woken up by the feeling of small hands reaching under his armpits and tickling him for all it was worth. His eyes snapped opened as he chuckled, nearly sending Terriermon tumbling off his stomach and to the floor.
"Terriermon, I thought we talked about that." Jenrya admonished his partner a moment later, once he had gotten a hold on himself.
"We did." Terriermon responded quickly. "You did the talking and I nodded and pretended to listen."
Jenrya sweatdropped. "That's usually the pattern with most of our conversations." He sighed before pulling Terriermon off his stomach and putting him on the end of the bed.
"Not to rush you Jen," Terriermon blurted out with uncharacteristic urgency, "But there's something you have to see on TV."
Jenrya frowned at the remark, but got the message. Swiftly pushing back his bedcovers, he scooped up his partner and climbed out of bed. He ignored the feeling of the cold floor as it hit his feet, but walked quickly to his bedroom doorway and exited the room.
Making his way past the unusually empty kitchen, Jenrya could hear the television at a blaring volume. As he entered the living room, snippets of screams and someone's voice straining over the craziness to be heard assaulted his ears.
Lee Mayumi sat on the couch, the telephone clutched so tightly in her hands that the knuckles were nearly white. Shuichon, Lopmon, Rinchei and Jaarin were nowhere to be seen. Mayumi was so absorbed in her program, that she barely noticed Terriermon and Jenrya's arrival.
Before Jenrya could say a word, a shorthaired man clutching a microphone and shaking slightly appeared on the screen. "I can't quite put what is happening into words." He spoke quickly. "Moments ago, what seemed like nothing more than an usual storm blossomed into something far worse. Creatures unlike any other, judged to be Digimon by our sources, suddenly appeared around and above the two skyscrapers, allegedly the central offices of the government sanctioned and formerly classified company known as Hypnos."
"These things, these Digimon…" A slightly blurred shot of several quadruped creatures replaced the anxious reporter. "The building has begun to collapse, forcing its employees to exit it and rush unknowingly into the jaws of these monsters. Upon this realization, the remaining employees have done what they can to barricade themselves within the building, but its condition is highly unstable and it all could come down at any time."
"The Special Forces are doing what they can against these beasts, but are having little luck. Weapons of any kind have proven ineffective and these things just keep coming…it's like a massacre out here. Ladies and gentlemen this horrific display-
Without warning, the screen blackened. It was just as well for Jenrya, he wasn't sure how much more of that nightmare he could take.
"We have to go." He muttered, trying to keep the horror out of his voice.
"You can't!" Mayumi spoke fearfully, jumping up to stand before him. "This isn't like before Jenrya, people are really dying out there." Her voice wavered. "I won't let you go and get killed by those-those things!"
"I don't have a choice!" Jenrya argued. "You're right, people are dying and we're the only ones that can stop it."
Mayumi clenched her fists tightly as she fought the tears that threatened to overflow from her eyes. "But why you?" She asked desperately. "You and the other Tamers have done so much and risked death time and again. Why must you continue to do so? Why is it always all of you who end up suffering?"
Jenrya sighed. "I wish I knew. But I don't have the time to think about it right now. Terriermon and I have to go."
The aforementioned Digimon, who had been uncharacteristically quiet throughout the argument, then chose to speak.
"Yeah, before Hirokazu and Kenta beat us to whatever those things are."
"And most likely rush right into the situation without any type of plan or idea of what they're facing." Jenrya sighed again. "This is why we should be there."
For a moment, silence was rampant.
"You're just like your father." Mayumi spoke softly. "Worried about the safety of others, rather than your own." The tears she had been resisting began to fall. "I can't stop you from going out there. Just promise me…if it gets too bad, if those Digimon are too strong…promise me that you and the other Tamers will get out of there."
Jenrya struggled to meet his mother's pleading eyes. He knew that no matter the odds, Takato, Ruki, Hirokazu, Kenta, Ryou and even Juri wouldn't give up in a battle, no matter how hopeless or desperate things seemed. He felt the same, but couldn't explain that to his mother. She had enough trouble letting him go to begin with, he believed that finding out he might not come back might be too much for her.
"I promise." He answered uneasily. "If it's more then we can handle, we'll be back."
"What about me? I want to go too." A young voice suddenly burst out. Mayumi jumped slightly, while Jenrya and Terriermon quickly turned to see a determined Shuichon, who held her partner Lopmon in her arms tightly. Rinchei and Jaarin stood behind them, looking both astonished and anxious.
Putting their surprise behind them, both Mayumi and Jenrya spoke in unison.
"No."
"No way."
Shuichon's eyes widened with argument at the quick dismissals. "Me and Lopmon want to help you! I'm a Tamer too!" She protested vehemently.
"You may be a Tamer, but you're still a little girl." Mayumi said wearily. "I think this may be too dangerous for your brother, I refuse to send you into the fray as well."
"But Mommy-"
"I said no!"
Jenrya's eyes widened, while Shuichon's filled with tears at the harshness in her mother's voice.
After a second's hesitation, Mayumi reached for her daughter and hugged her tightly.
"I'm so sorry for yelling at you Shuichon, but you must understand. I can't, I won't risk the possibility of loosing you."
"But I want to help Jen-nii-chan!"
"What if I go for the both of us?" Lopmon asked quietly. "With a foe such as this, I'm sure that I am needed."
Jenrya was torn. He'd seen first hand the effects of a Tamer losing their partner and with Shuichon being younger than Juri, he wasn't sure if she could handle something so traumatic. But on the other hand, Zhuqiaomon didn't seem like the type of Digimon who expected anything less than perfection from those who served him, the Devas had been full proof of that. And while he and the other Tamers had defeated them, it had often been a struggle to do so.
Still, Jenrya couldn't forget the earnest look that had been on his sister's face. Besides, if things are as bad as they appear to be, we'll need all the help that we can get.
"All right." Jenrya relented resignedly. "Lopmon can come with us. Shuichon, go find the Device card that Ryou gave to you, while I go get dressed."
Shuichon nodded and pulled away from Mayumi. "Okay. C'mon Lopmon." And with that, the young Tamer rushed from the room, her partner still held tightly in her arms.
~*~
Minutes later, Mayumi, Rinchei, Jaarin, Shuichon, Lopmon, Jenrya and Terriermon stood in front of their apartment building. The Queen Device card was held tightly in Shuichon's hand as she shifted anxiously.
"What, no big good-bye?" Terriermon quipped. "I thought we'd at least get some cheering before we go meet the guys that want to kill us."
"Terriermon!" Jenrya hissed in astonishment. It was one thing to try and keep things normal, but that last comment was really pushing things.
"What?"
Mayumi smiled sadly at the exchange. "Be careful, the three of you. If anything were to happen to any of you…" She trailed off dismally.
"Hey, this is us you're talking about." Terriermon added with a grin. "Caution's our middle name," The dog Digimon paused. "Unless we do something really brave and dangerous, but that's usually Takato's department."
Jenrya rolled his eyes. "Are you ready Shuichon?" He asked as he seized his D-Arc tightly.
"Ready Jen-nii-chan." The youngest Tamer replied determinedly. She copied his motions and held her magenta D-Arc firmly.
"Matrix Evolution!" Jenrya shouted. The words MATRIX EVOLTION scrawled across the front of his D-Arc, as a jade light burst from it and enveloped the both Tamer and his partner. Jenrya's body became data and merged with Terriermon's causing the green light to brighten.
"Terriermon, Evolve!" Was heard by the assembled as the form grew taller and expanded in shape.
At the same time, Shuichon grinned and slashed the Queen Device card through her D-Arc and cried, "Card Slash! Queen Device!"
A pink light flared around Lopmon, rapidly increasing the size and bulk of the Child level Digimon.
"…SaintGalgomon!" Jenrya and Terriermon's voices announced as the Ultimate Digimon was finally revealed. Now standing close to the same height of the apartment, SaintGalgomon had the muzzle of a canine and was covered from head to immense feet in emerald armor. Two missile launchers, armed and ready sat atop his shoulders, their face covered ammunition adding an almost disturbing aspect to the cyborg Digimon.
But SaintGalgomon wasn't the only Digimon to experience an increase in height. Once the pink light cleared, the solemn rabbit Deva Antiramon was revealed. His height was close to that of SaintGalgomon's, but his long arms and ceremonial attire differed completely.
Shuichon smiled adoringly at her partner. "Antiramon!"
Antiramon gave her a ghost of a smile before turning to his former doppelganger. "Shall we go?" He queried in a melodious voice.
"Right." SaintGalgomon responded in Terriermon's voice, activating his rockets and slowly taking to the air. "Next stop, Hypnos and the crazy Digimon that want to kill us."
Terriermon… Jenrya began from inside his green spear of light.
Yeah, Jen?
…Never mind.
Glancing down at Antiramon, who had taken off running between buildings and the rest of the Lee family from the cerulean sky SaintGalgomon gave a slight wave as he flew forward and away.
Moumantai Jen. Terriermon replied with slightly forced cheerfulness.
Remembering the terrible sound of screams that had keened before the television screen had gone blank; Jenrya shook his head. Not this time Terriermon and maybe not for a while.
~*~
"You're leaving again, aren't you?"
"You saw the news, you know I have to."
"Weren't you even going to say good-bye?"
Try as she might, Ruki couldn't get her mother's words out of her mind. She hadn't expected to be caught as she and Renamon, who had evolved into her Adult form Kyuubimon, were preparing to head to the center of Shinjuku.
For Ruki, catching what had happened on the news had been surprising enough, but seeing the accusing eyes of her mother staring down at her was a shock in itself. She had felt guilt welling up inside, and still it remained; a bitter and acrid feeling that wouldn't leave her no matter what she did.
Kyuuibimon remained silent as she and Ruki made their way to Hypnos. She could easily sense Ruki's distress, but understood her partner's silence as a sign of her deep thought. The last thing she wanted to do was distract her.
It's not like she didn't see the news, Ruki thought in annoyance. She knew what was happening. What was I supposed to do? Stay home and play dress up while the people at Hypnos are being turned into lunchmeat?
As soon as the thought crossed her mind, Ruki could feel the guilt stirring. She knew she wasn't being completely fair with her mother, who had been especially protective of her after her recent kidnapping by Hekatemon. Not many parents would let their children out of their sight after something like that, let alone off to fight the newest Digimon that was stupid enough to try and take on the Tamers.
And it wasn't only the situation with her mother that had Ruki irritated. As much as she didn't want to admit it, she was starting to get worried about Takato. Not because she hadn't seen him in days, that was something that could be chalked up to extra homework or helping at his parent's bakery. But she had tried calling him twice before leaving, only to have the phone ring over and over again.
It wasn't that early and with everything that was happening, she expected to see Guilmon and Takato coming up somewhere close by, unless they had gotten to Hypnos first. That was something Ruki doubted highly.
"Ruki." Kyuubimon's serene voice uttered softly as she came to a quick halt. "I believe we have company."
The Digimon Queen snapped out of her musings and glanced upwards at one of the taller buildings. For the second time that day, Ruki felt a measure of surprise. But as Justimon leapt to the ground, his crimson scarf flailing dramatically behind him, she felt her surprise quickly begin to fade.
Once the Ultimate Digimon reached the ground, Ruki frowned at him. "Ryou. I should've known you'd be here. What is it with you and showing up at the last minute?"
From within his blue sphere of light, Ryou smirked. "It's all worth it if I get to see that look on your face."
"Keep talking like that and I'll make sure that my face is the last thing you end up seeing."
Ryou laughed. "I've heard that one before. The funny thing is you've never actually gone through with it. Are you going soft Ruki? Or could you really like me more than you let on?"
Before Ruki could reply, the sound of rockets permeated the air. The Digimon Queen glanced upwards to see the familiar form of SaintGalgomon hovering above her.
"You guys weren't planning to go in without us, were you?" The Ultimate cyborg asked in his dual voices.
"Of course not." Ryou replied smoothly. "We were just making small talk until everyone else showed up, right Ruki?"
"Something like that." Ruki answered, glaring at Justimon. "Where is everyone anyway? I expected the dimwit duo to be screaming right about now and Takato to be here giving some big speech about fighting together and not giving up."
Jenrya nodded within his sphere of green light. "Good advice, based upon the damage caused by those…things."
"I tried calling him before I left." Said Ruki seriously. "There was no answer. He has to know what's happening, it's all over the news and radio."
"Unless those Digimon that attacked Hypnos got him too." SaintGalgomon stated in Terriermon's voice.
"We can only hope that isn't the case." Kyuubimon responded as she jumped over a large crack in the ground. Holes and other types of destruction had been appearing more frequently on the ground, as well as the sound of screams cutting through the air.
"The enemy is near." Cyberdramon's raspy voice observed from within Justimon. "Close to us."
"Really?" SaintGalgomon retorted sarcastically. "We had no idea."
As the skyline of the skyscrapers that housed Hypnos' operations became more pronounced, so did the destruction and depravity that surrounded it. Jenrya tensed when he received his first true look at the monsters that had been tearing through humans like some macabre assembly line.
"Everyone be careful." He instructed firmly. "We have no idea what these things want or how powerful they really are. Don't underestimate them."
The three Tamers made their way through the desolation, the horrific sight that bloomed before them making them solemn. Yet one unspoken question still remained. Where was Takato?
~*~