Chapter 30:
Worry is sometimes proven right, but one can never profit from it.
The Little Teenaged Geek (not that he would know anything)
They had just squeezed Golem into the hospital waiting room when Ash turned around and let out a loud. "Hey, who's that? More company?" There was a trio of figures dashing though the rain towards the hospital. At first, he didn't recognize them. But then he remembered the fox-like creature with yellow fur that he'd seen that girl with a few hours earlier. He waved to them, and they waved back. There was a boy running with the creature, wearing an orange vest and holding an umbrella over his head, and behind him was a green and white, stocky digimon with the girl over its shoulder.
The three arrived, huffing and puffing, and stood in the waiting room drip-drying along with the Monster crew. "Man!" Gargomon spat. "I don't know where Renamon got her poncho, but I'm going to have to get one of those in my size!" Gargomon set Rika down, regressed back to Terriermon, and shook off his pelt.
"Hey!" Holding his umbrella between himself and the spray that was coming from Terriermon, Henry shouted, "I really need to teach you some manners some time!"
"What? What did I do?" Terriermon asked.
"Ooohh! Never mind!"
"What happened to her?" Ash asked.
"We found her unconscious in the street. She was getting attacked by these things that looked like wolf statues!"
"Did they have red tails and shoot green rays of light out their eyes?"
"Yeah, they did. What were those things?"
"No clue," Ash answered. "But I ended up having to fight one, too."
Henry shook off his umbrella. "Well, one thing's for sure, my D-Arc couldn't identify it, and Terriermon couldn't pick up its data, so it's not a digimon, whatever it is. And I---" Henry's mouth dropped open as he saw Sora from Season 1. He was absolutely speechless.
"What is it?" Ash asked. "You look like you've seen a ghost!"
"There is just…no…way!"
Ash looked behind himself. He didn't see anything out of the ordinary. "Listen, whatever it is, I don't see it. I think we need to get that girl you found to the doctor's office right away."
"And I think the doctor should examine me, too!" Henry added, still gaping at Sora.
Brock had been away for a few hours, and they were more than worried. But there was nothing to be done; Betamon was still tired, and Mimi didn't care to go out in the rain. Nor did she know where to look for Brock, even if she did go. But, true to his word, Brock showed up with a cardboard box in his arms.
"Finally!" Mimi cried. "What took you?"
"I ended up looking in a shopping mall. I didn't meet any unfriendly monsters, but it took me almost two hours to get there and back, and to find some edible food. Most of it had gone bad in the stores."
"Huh? But you were gone for four hours!"
"What?" Brock asked. He itched the back of his neck. "My watch must be slow, then."
"The important thing is that you're back, safe and sound," Michael cut in. "And that you got this food. Thanks." Michael nudged Mimi. "I told you we'd be okay."
Mimi shook her head. "I'll admit it'll be good to have something to eat. I'm starved."
"Me too," Michael added. The six of them dug in to the bread, cold meats, and cheese that Brock had salvaged from the store.
Brock put a coat that he'd found in the mall on the child, and it finally occurred to him to ask the child what his name was.
"Ben," was the simple, quiet answer Brock got.
"Don't worry, Ben…we'll find you someplace."
"Someplace warmer than this?"
"Sure," Brock answered, patting the child on the shoulder.
"Boy am I grateful for that meal," Mimi sighed, wiping her face off. "I don't think we've eaten since last night!"
"I don't think we have, either," Brock agreed. "I think it's time we try to get some rest."
"You're right," Mimi answered. "Should somebody keep watch?"
"I will," Tiger answered. "I've been asleep since Brock left, so I'd be the most rested."
"Thanks," Michael said, pulling a blanket out of the box Brock had lugged in. They all curled up and tried to get some sleep---with limited success: after a short while, they heard a whirring noise beneath the floor, and a drill stuck up from the ground. A creature that resembled a spider with an auger on its back climbed up out of the hole.
"Hey, everyone! Hark up!" Tiger yelled.
The creature pulled its drill back into its body and the drill was replaced with a cannon that promptly began taking pot shots at Tiger: "V'ver Dra!"
"Blizzard!" Tiger shouted, blowing a stream of snow at the augore. The augore dodged and continued firing. It landed a hit and knocked Tiger back. It went for Suezo next, but Suezo's teleport put the augore at a disadvantage. Suezo reappeared behind the augore and simply tipped it over, and it couldn't move. It was essentially helpless.
Suezo grinned. "That thing's not so tough, after all!"
He spoke too soon: the augore shouted, "Ckinei-tor-wadrii noh unukreshnaiona djom… Ckinei-tor-mbili!" The augore became a pair of smaller, two-legged creatures armed with ray guns.
"Uh-oh!" Suezo murmured…
GAZRIITOR:
Nickname: Augore (Supaidagan)
Real Name: Ckinei-tor-wadrii
Caste: Y'tr-Nut'ka
Special Attacks: V'ver Dra
Modes: two
The Augore is one of the few ator that can bore underground. While tunneling, it uses its legs to push against the walls of its tunnel to propel itself forward. It must always surface with its drill facing straight up; otherwise it would be largely immobile. It cannot attack while it is in dig mode; it must retract its drill into a subspace pocket and replace the drill with a beam cannon before it can attack. Its firepower is roughly equivalent to that of a champion or armor digimon, so any bystanders had better beware if it does manage to transform into artillery mode. Another weakness is that one can immobilize it if it is on the surface and tipped on its side.
GAZRIITOR:
Nickname: Droll Bit (Ashinchu)
Real Name: Ckinei-tor-mbili
Caste: Y'tr-Nut'ka
Special Attacks: Yonunu Dar
Modes: one
Aptly named, the droll bit is a relatively weak menace machine. Its defense is small, and its sole armament is a laser gun. It walks about on two feet and is pretty clumsy. Clearly not meant to last, its sole purpose is to attack once an augore penetrates a subterranean hiding place. The tiny drill bit carried beneath its body serves no purpose until two droll bits combine into an augore.