Chapter Four

The Manipulative Villain, and the Power Hungry Providence Leader!

"Uff!" Tai landed with a heavy thud. "Where?" Tai picked himself up and quickly glanced around the others were also getting up. "Is everyone ok?" various mumbles of conformation arose from the shrubbery surrounding him.

"Monodramon?" Ryo asked as he helped his partner to his feet. "You ok?"

"Sure!" The small Dragon chirped and bounced to its feet.

"Tentomon?" Izzy called as he moved towards Ryo's location. "Where are you?" Ryo tensed as Izzy moved towards the bush keeping him out of sight.

"I'm over here Izzy!" The ladybug Digimon shouted at the last moment from somewhere to the right of Ryo.

As Izzy moved off to check on his partner Ryo let out a sigh of relief. "That was close."

"What are you worried about?" Monodramon moved closer to Ryo protectively.

"Its hard to explain buddy, and" Ryo was cut off as Rika started calling the children and Digimon into a clearing she'd found so they could al take a head count. "And it'd take time we don't have right now, lets go." Ryo finished as he and his Digimon out headed to meet the others.

Rika taped her foot as she waited for the others, doing her best to hold back a scowl. She knew she shouldn't be angry with anyone here she couldn't help it. All her frustration at he situation, her family in danger and her trapped in some stupid test, it was begging to be released. But she swallowed her anger and joined the other Tamers as they arrived.

"And Rika and Renamon means everyone is here." Takato announced as he completed the head count for the Tamers. Behind him Tai and Davies were finishing the same for their groups.

"So what's our next move?" Izzy spoke up after an uncomfortable pause.

"Well," Tai considered. "I guess we better see what's near us. You know a city or a lake or something."

"Or even if we're in one of the real worlds or the Digiworld." Matt pointed out. "We weren't told which we'd end up in."

"Maybe some of our faster Digimon can do a scouting job?" T.K suggested.

"Well should also be able to defend themselves." Davis pointed out. "Since we don't know what's out there."

"Well, I think that me and Birdramon fit that description pretty well." Sora pitched in.

"So do me and Aquilamon." Yolei added.

Mikemon purred slightly in his tree perch as he saw the humans make their plans, it was all for naught, the master had been right about their appearance, and he and his many followers could crush them at any time. But that was for another time, now he need to tell the master of their arrival.

"My Lord." Demi Devimon landed on the chair of his hidden master. "Mikemon reports the chosen have arrived in providence 82."

"Heh." The voice snorted "As I expected. Now let us see," Suddenly a screen appeared in the darkness. On it was another dark room with the shadowy outline a large hulking beast and a smaller creature. "How long it will take for the providence leader to realize he has, guests."

"You have the best entertainment ideas my lord." Demi Devimon smirked.

"I know."

"My Master!" A large red dragonfly zipped into the lair of the providence leader, his wings beating fanatically.

"What?" A deep booming voice asked as the insect landed and bowed before the beast.

"One of the training camps in the south-east has discovered the presence of humans and unknown digimons."

"Hmm…" The creature considered for a second. "Have the camp kill them."

The Flybeemon looked up in shock. "But sir should we not contact the master first? Perhaps he wishes to interrogate them?"

"No, no I am certain that this is what the master wishes."

"Very well my lord." The Flybeemon still sound unsure but took off to carry out his masters bidding. As we left a harsh laughter filled the room, well two golden eyes peered from the darkness.

"What is that fool doing?" Demi Devimon mumbled as he watched the incident play out on the screen.

"A classic maneuver to increase his standing with me." The master explained. "After he has had the chosen killed he will contact us to tell us of their appearance in his providence, soon after that he will report their deaths."

"To what ends?"

"He will shorten the time between their appearance and their deaths making it look quicker and he more efficient a leader."

"But what if you did not want them dead? He would look the fool for not asking what you wanted."

"Oh no he can simply blame the training camp for being overzealous. Brilliant but done." The voice chuckled the last part. "He never was very original."

"Find anything?" Tai asked as Sora, Birdramon, Yolei and Aquilamon landed.

"Sure did." Sora answered as Birdramon de-digivolved back to Biyomon. "There's a town to the north-west of here."

"And we now know that this is the Digi-world." Yolei hoped off Aquilamon and he too de-digivolved. "The place was full of them, definitely rush hour."

"Well that might be trouble." Tentamon buzzed. "Could you tell if they were under the control of the powers we heard about earlier?"

"So you were briefed too?" Izzy asked.

"Of course."

"What levels were they?" Rika butted in.

"Mostly Champions, with a few Rookies." Hawkmon answered.

"Well if we need to we shouldn't have to much trouble holding them off well we retreat if they prove hostile." Tentamon considered.

"Well we can't just stay here all day, and if thy are just being forced to live under these guys they might be able to help us, or at lest give us some information." Rika pointed out. "If they are servants of the powers we were sent to stop than like the bug said," She jerked he head at Tentamon. "we can get out of there."

"The name's Tentamon!"

"Whatever."

"Humph!" Tentamon crossed his claws and landed besides Izzy, Rika merely rolled he eyes at the display.

"Than maybe some of our, more diplomatic oriented members should enter the town and make contact in the most peaceful way possible?" Izzy suggested.

"How about one from each group?" Tai suggested.

"Sounds fine to me." Takato said, the others shook their heads in agreement.

"Well than." Tai smiled evilly "I Nome Joe for the original Digi-Destined."

"Hu?" Joe's head shot up at the mention of his name. "But…!"

"I second it!" Matt cut in before Joe could lodge his protest.

"Well than it agreed!" Tai finished laughing

"Ah buck up Joe!" Gomamon said well patting his partner's leg "maybe the place will have a mountain, bet you'd feel better taking action on one of those." The Seal Digimon said cracking a grin.

"Very funny." Joe replied narrowing his eyes at the Digimon.

"I do what I can."

"Well I think Ken should go for us." Davis added before everyone became too distracted by Joe and Gomamon.

"Sounds good to me." Yolei interjected.

"I'll do my best." Ken replied bowing slightly.

"Well, for us I guess it'd Henry." Ryo said thoughtfully.

"Fine with me." Rika replied.

"Well than." Henry said stepping froward. "I guess we should get going." He turned to Sora. "How far is this town?"

"About a few miles."

"Well let's get this over with." Joe stated as he and Gomamon headed of.

"Hey!" Terriermon shouted from Henry's shoulder. "What for us!"

"Hmm?" A small gray insect's head suddenly swished from side to side as it marched down a metallic hallway. "What do we have here? Visitors?" It made a sharp right down a tributary hallway from the main one it was just in, and walked into an office. "Sir!"

"Yes Searchmon?" A small yellow Digimon asked, it's tiny clear wings beating constantly.

"My radar has detected six unidentified units approaching the nearby town."

The yellow Digimon considered this for a second. "They must be at lest part of the humans and Digimons Lord Flybeemon told us about." It decided.

"Then what are we to do my lord?" The gray and blue digimon asked.

"Our orders are simple, kill them." The Digimon stopped for a second and rubbed its chin. "How are the tenth level trainees doing?"

"Though that is not my department my lord I hear they are progressing nicely."

"Good." A smirk formed on the digimon's face. "Have the trainer dispatch his best student to intercept them. We shall see just how strong these intruders are."

"An excellent idea my lord!" With that Searchmon scurried out of the room.

"Well than." The yellow digimon mumbled to itself. "Time for a snack!" Dipping its hand in a small jar it emerged with a sticky, dripping, yellow substance. "Hmm!" the digimon moaned as it slurped the substance off its hand. "Sweet!"

"Bullmon!" Searchmon shouted as he entered the training room. Throughout it numerous rookies were training, some were performing exercises others were learning fighting techniques and still others were sparing with each other.

"What?" towards the rooms rear a hulking from turned to face the new comer. As its name suggested the digimon looked like a bull, only with golden horns and blue and gold armor, finished with a small red cape.

"Come here I have orders from our lord."

"Very well." The hulking beasts grunted and trudged towards the insect leaving the students he was personally instructing to find other means to occupy themselves. "What does the lord want?"

"Your best student." Searchmon replied casually.

"Hmm?" Bullmon's eyes widened. "Why?"

"There're intruders heading towards the town he wishes to have your best test them." Bullmon started to say something but Searchmon cut him off. "Besides it would be good for the little one to be able to test their merit on the field of true combat. And it will show just how good a trainer you truly are."

Bull snorted angry and stared at the smaller digimon whose face had taken a small grin. "Very well." The Bull turned back towards the training rookies and want to fetch the student.

"Are we there yet Joe?" Gomamon asked in a faked whine.

"No." Joe replied through clenched teeth.

"That always gets to him." Gomamon whispered to Terriermon who was now walking besides him. The small dog gave out a tiny chuckle at that.

"Halt!" a voice suddenly echoed throughout the forest. "My mentor has command me to make sure that you do not pass!" A small figure leaped from a tree and landed in the shadows ahead of the group slowly it begins to walk froward. "And I shall carry out that order and see you dead!"

"You've got to be kidding me!" Gomamon moaned as the digimon emerged from the shadows.

"I am not." Replied the Floramon.