END GAME:
DESTINY'S END
CHILD OF SHADOWS MINI SERIES PART 7
Chapter 57
Code of Honor
A few months ago.
Demidevimon never got over the rush of being in charge. While it was true Izzy was still the big boss, he gave all of the Council Members basic free range. There were only two real rules, a few humans and digimon were under protection, and could not be harmed. They were apparently the digidestined, the ones who never showed. Demidevimon didn't exactly know how Izzy knew this, but frankly he couldn't care less. There where still six billion other humans left on this planet. The second rule was Izzy did not exist, Ladydevimon was in charge, or at least as far as the public was concerned. Demidevimon never figured out why Izzy wanted to be in the shadows. If he were in charge, he'd have poster, statues, and banners everywhere. But being on Izzy's council was more than Demidevimon's ever expected, and there was one fact that made it so delicious. Demidevimon looked to the hall, and here comes that reason now.
Gatomon came into the Demidevimon's throne room. "Preparations are complete, Demidevimon. Ladydevimon should be arriving shortly." Gatomon had a little scowl on her face. Myotismon had sent her here to double check Delta's lair for Ladydevimon's inspection. She was making sure the dark spires were functioning properly, and had been checking out all the Council of Five's base of operations in the city.
Demidevimon loved this more than anything. "Nice to see you again Gatomon. But I prefer Lord Delta, or Lord Demidevimon. Or how about simply Master?"
"Listen you flying cockroach, I still don't know why Ladydevimon made an annoying insect like yourself a Council Member, but I'm still twice as smart and ten times as powerful as you are." Gatomon glared at him.
"Jealous?" Demidevimon smirked; knowing the reason Izzy didn't completely trust her was because she was a chosen digimon, although Gatomon herself was ignorant of that fact. "Maybe you should kiss up to the bosses a little more." Gatomon just scowled and turned around. "Starting with me." Demidevimon suddenly slapped Gatomon hard on her butt with his wing.
Gatomon spun around and swatted Demidevimon with a backhand strike. Demidevimon went spiraling into the corner, a thin cut appearing on his lip. He smiled though; this is exactly what he wanted. "GUARDS!" Demidevimon shouted.
Two Mechanorimon and a Tankmon appeared a split second later as Demidevimon jumped to his feet. "Yes Lord Delta?"
"This creature has attacked your master. Take her outside and delete her." Demidevimon smiled. "Painfully."
"Now wait, you." Gatomon's rant halted as the two Mechanorimon grabbed her arms. Gatomon struggled as the Mechanorimon held on to her, but she stopped when the Tankmon leveled his nose gun at her.
"I hope Lord Beta isn't too angry with your deletion, but we can't have are servants hitting us for no reason." Demidevimon laughed as Gatomon was being dragged off.
"Uh, wait Lord Delta!" Gatomon choked out the title Lord. "I didn't mean to hit you so hard. I beg of you!!"
Demidevimon stopped and turned around, a weird little smirk on his face. "No you're not." While it was true he always wanted Gatomon out of the way, he realized that he no longer was jealous of her. Here she was, begging for her life. Her humiliation was much more delicious than her deletion could ever be. This must be why Izzy kept the other digidestined alive. "If you want to beg properly, try on you hands and knees." Demidevimon made a small gesture, and the Mekanorimon released her.
Gatomon bit her lip painfully hard, but got down on her knees. She was still taller than Demidevimon like this as she clasped her paws togther. "Please Lord Delta. I beg you, spare my life." Each word was choked out like bile.
(Oh man, this is great!) Demidevimon chuckled. He could tell Gatomon wanted nothing more than to rip his wings off. "Much better." Demidevimon wiped his lip. "Now dance."
"What?!" Gatomon got up suddenly.
"I'm bored. So amuse me." Demidevimon laughed as he flew up into his throne.
"You can't be serious!" Gatomon looked at Demidevimon as he perched in his giant chair.
"Deadly serious." Demidevimon looked to the side at his metal guards of Mekanorimon and Tankmon.
"..." Gatomon flashed Demidevimon a lookd of pure hate as she began to dance very akwardly, twirlling in a circle as she did a rather poor ballet impression.
Demidevimon was laughing hard now. Myotismon was cruel, yes. But he didn't know how to humilate someone. Gatomon was powerful, strong, a survivor. To degrade her self like this, even to survive, was priceless. (Man I wonder if Myotismon would trade me something for Gatomon.) Demidevimon laughed as Gatomon kicked high. She stil had that deep scowl on her face, which made the who experiance even better. Gatomon performed one more spin, before stopping, bowing as she did so. "Was that satisfactory?"
"Who knew you where such a dancer?" Demidevimon laughed. "Tell me, do you sing?"
"No." Gatomon replied not lifting her head.
"Aww I bet you have a lovely singing voice." Demidevimon flew off his chair and landed next to Gatomon.
"If we are finished, I need to report to Myotismon." Gatomon replied grinding her teeth. "I have my obligations for him to finish."
"Work work work." Demidevimon smiled again, suddenly getting a really good idea to humilate Gatomon. "You know, if you were a little nicer to me, I bet I can get you a little more freedom." Demidevimon lifted up Gatomon's chin with his wing. "Besides, I could use a girlfriend like you. One who knows her place." Demidevimon moved suddenly, and kissed Gatomon on the lips.
"MMrahh!" Gatomon's head snapped back, and she glared down at Demidevimon, laughing himself horss. Gatomon's survival instinct died there, as she brought back her claws to rip his face off. Fate intervened, sparing Demidevimon's life and Gatomon's execution when the intercom came on. "Delta!" Ladydevimon's voice echoed through the hall. "I am waiting in the control room."
"Lost track of time." Demidevimon smiled at Gatomon. "Now you stay right here, you can amuse me some more later." Demidevimon flew off to the control room, although it was not Ladydevimon waiting for him in the chair, she was on the screen. Izzy was waiting in the chair, donned in his Digimon Emperor outfit. "Hey Izzy, sorry I didn't greet you when you came in, I was uh, occupied."
Izzy glared at him, as Ladydevimon spoke. "Have you been paying attention to what's going on?"
"Why?" Demidevimon asked, feeling a little nervous from Izzy's lack of voice.
Ladydevimon shook her head as she pulled up screens from all over the world. Furious battles were taking place all over the world, the most heated being right here in the city. "How about a full scale rebellion? There are outbreaks all over the world. That child Ken must have been planning this for months. Vaccine and Data digimon are spread out in a massive attack." Ladydevimon looked back to the monitor, and watched as a Unimon was placed with a black spiral, turning him to Izzy's side. "Luckily, Izzy finished his newest invention, the black spirals. Just in time I might add."
"Hey, you can't blame me for Ken, I don't even know where he is!" Demidevimon answered.
"How about right under your gray furred nose?" Ladydevimon pulled up Demidevimon's security camera, and showed Ken and Joe sneaking through his lair. "Now, you can't even keep track of your own building, let alone your territory. Now you are going to handle this personally, or we are going to look into your retirement plans."
Demidevimon was now sweating hard; his fear even furthered by the fact Izzy had not said a word. "Right away! I won't disappoint you!" He flew out of the room, leaving Izzy alone with Ladydevimon's program.
"I made a mistake when I chose him as a Council member." Izzy sat in his chair. "True he is loyal and manipulative, but he doesn't realize the Council of Five comes first."
"So what do you plan on doing?" Ladydevimon asked from the computer screen.
"First Ken and Joe." Izzy turned to the computer screen. He had a little smirk on his face. This Joe was a far cry from the first world's Joe. He was headstrong, tough, and a fighter. Even a further cry was Ken. Ken in the first time was a ruthless, cold-hearted creature. This Ken was the most valiant person on this planet, risking his life to destroy 'Ladydevimon'. Izzy owed Ken a debt of gratitude, though. He managed to duplicate his black spirals and black spires, to some extent from Ken's code in the first time line. That was in fact why the underground was launching an all out world attack. The black spires were fused with Ladydevimon's code to make digimon and people act violently, so humans and free digimon would go ballistic when they lost their tempers. An excellent way of keeping the populace in check. Izzy even fashioned this new outfit and took the title Digimon Emperor, just out of a dark sense of irony. "It's a shame, but I can't have them defying me like this."
Ladydevimon smiled before the screen blinked out, as did every other monitor in the control room. Izzy couldn't help but chuckle. "Nicely done Ken."
"There, her security is down, at least for the time being." Ken stood away from the panel he had ripped open, wires everywhere.
Joe had both of his guns out looking down the halls, not scared but cautious. Joe had long since stopped being afraid; life was too dangerous to be afraid. "Good, lets get going. They'll know we're here by now."
"I still don't know how you convinced Gomamon and Biyomon to let us come here by ourselves." Joe took the crossbow from his back. It was a supurb weapon, capable of deleting Ladydevimon with its digizoidium arrows. A little something Andromon whipped up, as well as the bomb Joe had with him.
"I didn't. He's going to be pissed when I let him and Biyomon out of the padded room." Joe and Ken started going down the halls. "I know the little guy would have insisted on coming, and I wouldn't allow that."
Ken nodded. "You're right. This is much too dangerous."
"And getting more dangerous." The halls seemed to fill with viral digimon from doors on the sides. A Gazimon snickered. "Any last words?"
Joe smiled. "Of course." He pointed his guns at the Gazimon. "But make them quick."
Izzy began typing rapidly, rewiring the computers so he could get the monitors back on. The screens finally hummed to life, and Ladydevimon's link was brought back up, as well as the security monitors. Izzy looked at the monitors. Joe was in a pitched battle, and just had his guns torn away from him by a Veggiemon. Joe didn't seem to be knocked the least bit off balance as he delivered a powerful kick to the Veggiemon's face, before tearing down the hall. Izzy spoke into the intercom to Demidevimon through his earpiecrce. "Delta, Joe is heading in your direction. He's unarmed except for his bomb. Take care of him. He is under no protection as of right now."
"Sure thing boss!" Demidevimon replied through the receiver.
"Now." Izzy turned back to the monitors. "Where is that annoying thorn in my side Ken?"
There was a click in Izzy's left ear. "Right here."
"Impressive Ken." Izzy looked out of the side of his eye. Ken had a crossbow arrow pressed right against his temples. "A high quality weapon. Is that arrow digizoidium?"
"It was you." Ken growled as he fingered the trigger. "There is no Ladydevimon, is there?!"
"Not really." Izzy didn't make any sudden movements but he slowly gestured to Ladydevimon's image on the screen.
"I'm just Izzy's figurehead." Ladydevimon smiled.
"Merely a ruse to keep me safe. It worked pretty well? Even kept the heroic Ken fooled." Izzy smiled slightly.
"Didn't work well enough!" Ken shouted. "This ends here!"
"Does it?" Izzy turned his head ever so slightly, so he was looking up to Ken from his seat. "Have you ever killed a human before? We don't break up like digimon do." Izzy slowly stood up, the arrow now aimed at his chest. "That arrow won't kill me instantly. I'll probably die slow, choking on my own blood, is that what you truly want?"
"You're responsible for millions of deaths! Ruining the lives of everyone on this planet!" Ken tried to sound confident, but there was a wavering in his voice.
"So punish me. Strike with the hand of vengeance." Izzy held his hands wide. "I just hope you can live with this decision."
Ken bit his lip, and aimed the arrow at Izzy's neck. Time seemed to pause, then Ken dropped the weapon to his side. "Damn you." Ken replied.
Izzy scowled. "You first." Izzy's eyes turned red, and Ken tried to instinctually raise his bow again. But Izzy merely batted the weapon away as his shield wrapped around him. "And by the way, that human thing is highly overrated." Ken screamed and delivered a kick to Izzy's gut. Izzy took the blow, not even flinching. "Honor. You could have won today Ken. A mere pull of the trigger, and the Council of Five and all my forces crumble around me."
"You won't win!" Ken backed up against the console. "Someone will take you down, if not me, than others!"
"Not your friend Joe I hope." Izzy motioned to the monitor. "He should stop sticking his nose where it doesn't belong."
Ken looked at the monitor, and saw Joe with his feet stuck in some sort of glue in the hallway. He saw some winged creature fly from the ceiling, and Joe falling to his knees. Joe had his left eye clamped, an impossible amount of blood seeping from his hand. "You monster!" Ken screamed.
"He forfeited his protective status the minute he entered this lair." Izzy turned his gaze back to Ken. "And you never had any protective status in the first place." Izzy pointed his palm at Ken. "Time to crush the Underground's leader."
Ken whipped out a switchblade from his pocket and flipped out the blade. "Not yet!"
Izzy laughed as Ken flung the blade at him. The blade sailed over Izzy's head, and collided with Ken's intended target, the overhanging lights. Showers of sparks sailed from the ceiling, covering Izzy. Izzy instinctively covered himself, even though the sparks couldn't harm him. As the emergency lighting clicked on, Izzy realized Ken was gone, as well as his crossbow from the floor. Izzy scowled, and turned back the monitors. Ken must not be allowed to leave alive. He now knew his secret, and that must not be allowed to leave these walls.
Joe was on his knees as a crimson puddle pooled under him. His left eye felt like it was on fire, but an adrenaline rage forced the pain down as he regained himself. His bomb was gone, the one they planned on using to kill Delta and Ladydevimon. Then Joe spotted it, except he had trouble focusing on the homemade explosive. Joe realized it was because he only had one eye now. The rest of his left one was a mangled mess. Joe reached as far as he could, but his legs where still stuck in some quick hardening adhesives. Joe's fingertips just brushed the device, when the same bat creature landed in front of him, his claws dripping with blood. His blood. "Pleased to meet you Joe. I've heard so much about you."
"And just who the hell are you?" Joe scowled, still trying to grab the device.
"The name's Demidevimon, but all my subjects call me Delta." Demidevimon smiled.
"I can think of a few choice names as well." Joe pulled his hand away from his eye., revealing a deep gash forming on the left side of his face.
Demidevimon puled out a lighter, and walked to the bomb. Demidevimon flicked the lighter on, and lit the fuse in front of Joe's horrified good eye. Demidevimon turned back to Joe as the fuse burnt. "How about executioner?" Demidevimon took a step back as Joe strained even harder for the explosive device. "See you later Joe, in pieces!" Demidevimon laughed at his own joke, when a whistling sound filled the air, followed by a thunk. Demidevimon looked up, and saw an arrow shaft protruding from his forehead. "Ahhh.fu.." Was all he got out before he broke up, the arrow falling to the ground with a clink.
Ken ran up behind Joe, and saw his lieutenant and best friend, injured and stuck to the ground. Joe pointed to the bomb just as the fuse disappeared into the bomb. "KEN GET OUT OF HERE! IT'S GOING TO BLOW ANY SECOND!"
Ken gave Joe a quick smile, before running, scooping up the bomb and tearing down the hall he came. "Sorry Joe, Sam, everybody." Ken told himself as he turned the corner. There was that window Ken saw on his way past. He hurled the bomb with all his might, hoping there was enough fuse left in the bomb so he could make the throw. The explosive left his fingertips, and started sailing to the window.
"KEN STOP!" Joe continuously shouted after Ken disappeared, shortly before an explosion rocked the entire base. Joe swore he went deaf, the pain in his ears overshadowing the pain in his eye. Cracks appeared all over the hall, pieces of ceiling falling to the ground. Joe would have been killed as well, if there was not wall separating him from the explosion. As it was, the force of the explosion disoriented Joe for several seconds. After he regained his composure, Joe quickly dug his knife out, and began tearing at his bonds. He freed himself a few minutes later, and immediately ran to the same hall Ken disappeared to. Joe turned the corner, hoping for a miracle. He didn't get it.
Ken was propped up against the wall. His entire body was scorched, bruised and bloody. Joe ran up to him, and knelt. "Come on Ken, don't you DARE die on me!"
Ken weakly placed a hand on Joe's shoulder. "Have to."
"Don't talk Ken, I'm getting you some help!" Joe announced, although his mind new better. His career as a doctor may have been cut short, but he knew enough to know how injured Ken truly was.
"No. Have to tell you." Ken strained to speak, but Joe didn't stop him. "Looking for Ladydevimon..I found..I found." Ken coughed, blood dripping from his lips. "Dared me to.kill..I tried.really tried."
"I know you did." Joe comforted Ken.
"Those eyes." Ken coughed again, his voice growing even more hoarse. "Red eyes.soulless red eyes." Ken coughed again as Joe held him. Joe waited for his next breath, but it never came.
Izzy was watching this touching display through the monitors without showing the least bit of emotion. "Well, that solves that problem." Izzy remarked as Joe picked Ken's body over his shoulder, and began walking down the halls.
"Ladydevimon!" One of the deceased Demidevimon's forces called through the intercom. "Delta has been killed! The ones called Joe and Ken have killed him. Ken is dead, but Joe is still alive! What should we do?"
"A shame about Demidevimon." Ladydevimon's face appeared in another monitor. "But what should we do about Joe?"
"Quite simple, let him go." Izzy replied.
"Why is that?" Ladydevimon asked confused. "He did try to kill you, and Demidevimon is dead now."
"Demidevimon is easily replaced. I have a few ideas for his alternate." Izzy turned his face back to the monitor. Joe was crying out of his one good eye, and blood dripping out of his missing eye. His shirt was stained red, a mixture of his and Ken's blood. "And as for Joe, let him carry Ken out. Show the world the price for defying me. If no one sees the body, they'll assume he's merely in hiding. Joe knows nothing that could comprise me. This is much better. Let the masses fall into despair, and let them know they can never defeat me." Izzy sat up with a wave of his cape. "Ken is dead. I am now truly the Digimon Emperor."
DESTINY'S END
CHILD OF SHADOWS MINI SERIES PART 7
Chapter 57
Code of Honor
A few months ago.
Demidevimon never got over the rush of being in charge. While it was true Izzy was still the big boss, he gave all of the Council Members basic free range. There were only two real rules, a few humans and digimon were under protection, and could not be harmed. They were apparently the digidestined, the ones who never showed. Demidevimon didn't exactly know how Izzy knew this, but frankly he couldn't care less. There where still six billion other humans left on this planet. The second rule was Izzy did not exist, Ladydevimon was in charge, or at least as far as the public was concerned. Demidevimon never figured out why Izzy wanted to be in the shadows. If he were in charge, he'd have poster, statues, and banners everywhere. But being on Izzy's council was more than Demidevimon's ever expected, and there was one fact that made it so delicious. Demidevimon looked to the hall, and here comes that reason now.
Gatomon came into the Demidevimon's throne room. "Preparations are complete, Demidevimon. Ladydevimon should be arriving shortly." Gatomon had a little scowl on her face. Myotismon had sent her here to double check Delta's lair for Ladydevimon's inspection. She was making sure the dark spires were functioning properly, and had been checking out all the Council of Five's base of operations in the city.
Demidevimon loved this more than anything. "Nice to see you again Gatomon. But I prefer Lord Delta, or Lord Demidevimon. Or how about simply Master?"
"Listen you flying cockroach, I still don't know why Ladydevimon made an annoying insect like yourself a Council Member, but I'm still twice as smart and ten times as powerful as you are." Gatomon glared at him.
"Jealous?" Demidevimon smirked; knowing the reason Izzy didn't completely trust her was because she was a chosen digimon, although Gatomon herself was ignorant of that fact. "Maybe you should kiss up to the bosses a little more." Gatomon just scowled and turned around. "Starting with me." Demidevimon suddenly slapped Gatomon hard on her butt with his wing.
Gatomon spun around and swatted Demidevimon with a backhand strike. Demidevimon went spiraling into the corner, a thin cut appearing on his lip. He smiled though; this is exactly what he wanted. "GUARDS!" Demidevimon shouted.
Two Mechanorimon and a Tankmon appeared a split second later as Demidevimon jumped to his feet. "Yes Lord Delta?"
"This creature has attacked your master. Take her outside and delete her." Demidevimon smiled. "Painfully."
"Now wait, you." Gatomon's rant halted as the two Mechanorimon grabbed her arms. Gatomon struggled as the Mechanorimon held on to her, but she stopped when the Tankmon leveled his nose gun at her.
"I hope Lord Beta isn't too angry with your deletion, but we can't have are servants hitting us for no reason." Demidevimon laughed as Gatomon was being dragged off.
"Uh, wait Lord Delta!" Gatomon choked out the title Lord. "I didn't mean to hit you so hard. I beg of you!!"
Demidevimon stopped and turned around, a weird little smirk on his face. "No you're not." While it was true he always wanted Gatomon out of the way, he realized that he no longer was jealous of her. Here she was, begging for her life. Her humiliation was much more delicious than her deletion could ever be. This must be why Izzy kept the other digidestined alive. "If you want to beg properly, try on you hands and knees." Demidevimon made a small gesture, and the Mekanorimon released her.
Gatomon bit her lip painfully hard, but got down on her knees. She was still taller than Demidevimon like this as she clasped her paws togther. "Please Lord Delta. I beg you, spare my life." Each word was choked out like bile.
(Oh man, this is great!) Demidevimon chuckled. He could tell Gatomon wanted nothing more than to rip his wings off. "Much better." Demidevimon wiped his lip. "Now dance."
"What?!" Gatomon got up suddenly.
"I'm bored. So amuse me." Demidevimon laughed as he flew up into his throne.
"You can't be serious!" Gatomon looked at Demidevimon as he perched in his giant chair.
"Deadly serious." Demidevimon looked to the side at his metal guards of Mekanorimon and Tankmon.
"..." Gatomon flashed Demidevimon a lookd of pure hate as she began to dance very akwardly, twirlling in a circle as she did a rather poor ballet impression.
Demidevimon was laughing hard now. Myotismon was cruel, yes. But he didn't know how to humilate someone. Gatomon was powerful, strong, a survivor. To degrade her self like this, even to survive, was priceless. (Man I wonder if Myotismon would trade me something for Gatomon.) Demidevimon laughed as Gatomon kicked high. She stil had that deep scowl on her face, which made the who experiance even better. Gatomon performed one more spin, before stopping, bowing as she did so. "Was that satisfactory?"
"Who knew you where such a dancer?" Demidevimon laughed. "Tell me, do you sing?"
"No." Gatomon replied not lifting her head.
"Aww I bet you have a lovely singing voice." Demidevimon flew off his chair and landed next to Gatomon.
"If we are finished, I need to report to Myotismon." Gatomon replied grinding her teeth. "I have my obligations for him to finish."
"Work work work." Demidevimon smiled again, suddenly getting a really good idea to humilate Gatomon. "You know, if you were a little nicer to me, I bet I can get you a little more freedom." Demidevimon lifted up Gatomon's chin with his wing. "Besides, I could use a girlfriend like you. One who knows her place." Demidevimon moved suddenly, and kissed Gatomon on the lips.
"MMrahh!" Gatomon's head snapped back, and she glared down at Demidevimon, laughing himself horss. Gatomon's survival instinct died there, as she brought back her claws to rip his face off. Fate intervened, sparing Demidevimon's life and Gatomon's execution when the intercom came on. "Delta!" Ladydevimon's voice echoed through the hall. "I am waiting in the control room."
"Lost track of time." Demidevimon smiled at Gatomon. "Now you stay right here, you can amuse me some more later." Demidevimon flew off to the control room, although it was not Ladydevimon waiting for him in the chair, she was on the screen. Izzy was waiting in the chair, donned in his Digimon Emperor outfit. "Hey Izzy, sorry I didn't greet you when you came in, I was uh, occupied."
Izzy glared at him, as Ladydevimon spoke. "Have you been paying attention to what's going on?"
"Why?" Demidevimon asked, feeling a little nervous from Izzy's lack of voice.
Ladydevimon shook her head as she pulled up screens from all over the world. Furious battles were taking place all over the world, the most heated being right here in the city. "How about a full scale rebellion? There are outbreaks all over the world. That child Ken must have been planning this for months. Vaccine and Data digimon are spread out in a massive attack." Ladydevimon looked back to the monitor, and watched as a Unimon was placed with a black spiral, turning him to Izzy's side. "Luckily, Izzy finished his newest invention, the black spirals. Just in time I might add."
"Hey, you can't blame me for Ken, I don't even know where he is!" Demidevimon answered.
"How about right under your gray furred nose?" Ladydevimon pulled up Demidevimon's security camera, and showed Ken and Joe sneaking through his lair. "Now, you can't even keep track of your own building, let alone your territory. Now you are going to handle this personally, or we are going to look into your retirement plans."
Demidevimon was now sweating hard; his fear even furthered by the fact Izzy had not said a word. "Right away! I won't disappoint you!" He flew out of the room, leaving Izzy alone with Ladydevimon's program.
"I made a mistake when I chose him as a Council member." Izzy sat in his chair. "True he is loyal and manipulative, but he doesn't realize the Council of Five comes first."
"So what do you plan on doing?" Ladydevimon asked from the computer screen.
"First Ken and Joe." Izzy turned to the computer screen. He had a little smirk on his face. This Joe was a far cry from the first world's Joe. He was headstrong, tough, and a fighter. Even a further cry was Ken. Ken in the first time was a ruthless, cold-hearted creature. This Ken was the most valiant person on this planet, risking his life to destroy 'Ladydevimon'. Izzy owed Ken a debt of gratitude, though. He managed to duplicate his black spirals and black spires, to some extent from Ken's code in the first time line. That was in fact why the underground was launching an all out world attack. The black spires were fused with Ladydevimon's code to make digimon and people act violently, so humans and free digimon would go ballistic when they lost their tempers. An excellent way of keeping the populace in check. Izzy even fashioned this new outfit and took the title Digimon Emperor, just out of a dark sense of irony. "It's a shame, but I can't have them defying me like this."
Ladydevimon smiled before the screen blinked out, as did every other monitor in the control room. Izzy couldn't help but chuckle. "Nicely done Ken."
"There, her security is down, at least for the time being." Ken stood away from the panel he had ripped open, wires everywhere.
Joe had both of his guns out looking down the halls, not scared but cautious. Joe had long since stopped being afraid; life was too dangerous to be afraid. "Good, lets get going. They'll know we're here by now."
"I still don't know how you convinced Gomamon and Biyomon to let us come here by ourselves." Joe took the crossbow from his back. It was a supurb weapon, capable of deleting Ladydevimon with its digizoidium arrows. A little something Andromon whipped up, as well as the bomb Joe had with him.
"I didn't. He's going to be pissed when I let him and Biyomon out of the padded room." Joe and Ken started going down the halls. "I know the little guy would have insisted on coming, and I wouldn't allow that."
Ken nodded. "You're right. This is much too dangerous."
"And getting more dangerous." The halls seemed to fill with viral digimon from doors on the sides. A Gazimon snickered. "Any last words?"
Joe smiled. "Of course." He pointed his guns at the Gazimon. "But make them quick."
Izzy began typing rapidly, rewiring the computers so he could get the monitors back on. The screens finally hummed to life, and Ladydevimon's link was brought back up, as well as the security monitors. Izzy looked at the monitors. Joe was in a pitched battle, and just had his guns torn away from him by a Veggiemon. Joe didn't seem to be knocked the least bit off balance as he delivered a powerful kick to the Veggiemon's face, before tearing down the hall. Izzy spoke into the intercom to Demidevimon through his earpiecrce. "Delta, Joe is heading in your direction. He's unarmed except for his bomb. Take care of him. He is under no protection as of right now."
"Sure thing boss!" Demidevimon replied through the receiver.
"Now." Izzy turned back to the monitors. "Where is that annoying thorn in my side Ken?"
There was a click in Izzy's left ear. "Right here."
"Impressive Ken." Izzy looked out of the side of his eye. Ken had a crossbow arrow pressed right against his temples. "A high quality weapon. Is that arrow digizoidium?"
"It was you." Ken growled as he fingered the trigger. "There is no Ladydevimon, is there?!"
"Not really." Izzy didn't make any sudden movements but he slowly gestured to Ladydevimon's image on the screen.
"I'm just Izzy's figurehead." Ladydevimon smiled.
"Merely a ruse to keep me safe. It worked pretty well? Even kept the heroic Ken fooled." Izzy smiled slightly.
"Didn't work well enough!" Ken shouted. "This ends here!"
"Does it?" Izzy turned his head ever so slightly, so he was looking up to Ken from his seat. "Have you ever killed a human before? We don't break up like digimon do." Izzy slowly stood up, the arrow now aimed at his chest. "That arrow won't kill me instantly. I'll probably die slow, choking on my own blood, is that what you truly want?"
"You're responsible for millions of deaths! Ruining the lives of everyone on this planet!" Ken tried to sound confident, but there was a wavering in his voice.
"So punish me. Strike with the hand of vengeance." Izzy held his hands wide. "I just hope you can live with this decision."
Ken bit his lip, and aimed the arrow at Izzy's neck. Time seemed to pause, then Ken dropped the weapon to his side. "Damn you." Ken replied.
Izzy scowled. "You first." Izzy's eyes turned red, and Ken tried to instinctually raise his bow again. But Izzy merely batted the weapon away as his shield wrapped around him. "And by the way, that human thing is highly overrated." Ken screamed and delivered a kick to Izzy's gut. Izzy took the blow, not even flinching. "Honor. You could have won today Ken. A mere pull of the trigger, and the Council of Five and all my forces crumble around me."
"You won't win!" Ken backed up against the console. "Someone will take you down, if not me, than others!"
"Not your friend Joe I hope." Izzy motioned to the monitor. "He should stop sticking his nose where it doesn't belong."
Ken looked at the monitor, and saw Joe with his feet stuck in some sort of glue in the hallway. He saw some winged creature fly from the ceiling, and Joe falling to his knees. Joe had his left eye clamped, an impossible amount of blood seeping from his hand. "You monster!" Ken screamed.
"He forfeited his protective status the minute he entered this lair." Izzy turned his gaze back to Ken. "And you never had any protective status in the first place." Izzy pointed his palm at Ken. "Time to crush the Underground's leader."
Ken whipped out a switchblade from his pocket and flipped out the blade. "Not yet!"
Izzy laughed as Ken flung the blade at him. The blade sailed over Izzy's head, and collided with Ken's intended target, the overhanging lights. Showers of sparks sailed from the ceiling, covering Izzy. Izzy instinctively covered himself, even though the sparks couldn't harm him. As the emergency lighting clicked on, Izzy realized Ken was gone, as well as his crossbow from the floor. Izzy scowled, and turned back the monitors. Ken must not be allowed to leave alive. He now knew his secret, and that must not be allowed to leave these walls.
Joe was on his knees as a crimson puddle pooled under him. His left eye felt like it was on fire, but an adrenaline rage forced the pain down as he regained himself. His bomb was gone, the one they planned on using to kill Delta and Ladydevimon. Then Joe spotted it, except he had trouble focusing on the homemade explosive. Joe realized it was because he only had one eye now. The rest of his left one was a mangled mess. Joe reached as far as he could, but his legs where still stuck in some quick hardening adhesives. Joe's fingertips just brushed the device, when the same bat creature landed in front of him, his claws dripping with blood. His blood. "Pleased to meet you Joe. I've heard so much about you."
"And just who the hell are you?" Joe scowled, still trying to grab the device.
"The name's Demidevimon, but all my subjects call me Delta." Demidevimon smiled.
"I can think of a few choice names as well." Joe pulled his hand away from his eye., revealing a deep gash forming on the left side of his face.
Demidevimon puled out a lighter, and walked to the bomb. Demidevimon flicked the lighter on, and lit the fuse in front of Joe's horrified good eye. Demidevimon turned back to Joe as the fuse burnt. "How about executioner?" Demidevimon took a step back as Joe strained even harder for the explosive device. "See you later Joe, in pieces!" Demidevimon laughed at his own joke, when a whistling sound filled the air, followed by a thunk. Demidevimon looked up, and saw an arrow shaft protruding from his forehead. "Ahhh.fu.." Was all he got out before he broke up, the arrow falling to the ground with a clink.
Ken ran up behind Joe, and saw his lieutenant and best friend, injured and stuck to the ground. Joe pointed to the bomb just as the fuse disappeared into the bomb. "KEN GET OUT OF HERE! IT'S GOING TO BLOW ANY SECOND!"
Ken gave Joe a quick smile, before running, scooping up the bomb and tearing down the hall he came. "Sorry Joe, Sam, everybody." Ken told himself as he turned the corner. There was that window Ken saw on his way past. He hurled the bomb with all his might, hoping there was enough fuse left in the bomb so he could make the throw. The explosive left his fingertips, and started sailing to the window.
"KEN STOP!" Joe continuously shouted after Ken disappeared, shortly before an explosion rocked the entire base. Joe swore he went deaf, the pain in his ears overshadowing the pain in his eye. Cracks appeared all over the hall, pieces of ceiling falling to the ground. Joe would have been killed as well, if there was not wall separating him from the explosion. As it was, the force of the explosion disoriented Joe for several seconds. After he regained his composure, Joe quickly dug his knife out, and began tearing at his bonds. He freed himself a few minutes later, and immediately ran to the same hall Ken disappeared to. Joe turned the corner, hoping for a miracle. He didn't get it.
Ken was propped up against the wall. His entire body was scorched, bruised and bloody. Joe ran up to him, and knelt. "Come on Ken, don't you DARE die on me!"
Ken weakly placed a hand on Joe's shoulder. "Have to."
"Don't talk Ken, I'm getting you some help!" Joe announced, although his mind new better. His career as a doctor may have been cut short, but he knew enough to know how injured Ken truly was.
"No. Have to tell you." Ken strained to speak, but Joe didn't stop him. "Looking for Ladydevimon..I found..I found." Ken coughed, blood dripping from his lips. "Dared me to.kill..I tried.really tried."
"I know you did." Joe comforted Ken.
"Those eyes." Ken coughed again, his voice growing even more hoarse. "Red eyes.soulless red eyes." Ken coughed again as Joe held him. Joe waited for his next breath, but it never came.
Izzy was watching this touching display through the monitors without showing the least bit of emotion. "Well, that solves that problem." Izzy remarked as Joe picked Ken's body over his shoulder, and began walking down the halls.
"Ladydevimon!" One of the deceased Demidevimon's forces called through the intercom. "Delta has been killed! The ones called Joe and Ken have killed him. Ken is dead, but Joe is still alive! What should we do?"
"A shame about Demidevimon." Ladydevimon's face appeared in another monitor. "But what should we do about Joe?"
"Quite simple, let him go." Izzy replied.
"Why is that?" Ladydevimon asked confused. "He did try to kill you, and Demidevimon is dead now."
"Demidevimon is easily replaced. I have a few ideas for his alternate." Izzy turned his face back to the monitor. Joe was crying out of his one good eye, and blood dripping out of his missing eye. His shirt was stained red, a mixture of his and Ken's blood. "And as for Joe, let him carry Ken out. Show the world the price for defying me. If no one sees the body, they'll assume he's merely in hiding. Joe knows nothing that could comprise me. This is much better. Let the masses fall into despair, and let them know they can never defeat me." Izzy sat up with a wave of his cape. "Ken is dead. I am now truly the Digimon Emperor."