A/N: Okay I know I've dropped off the face of the planet for the last little bit but I had one of those good idea moments and thought I'd follow up with it. As usual review, they are most appreciated. And yes I realize I have unfinished work but am having trouble getting going on them again so perhaps this will help.
Takes place in 02...somewhere around the Kimeramon thing…lets just say I can't remember my timeline very well so put it wherever you want.
Disclaimer: I don't own them, as always.
Ghosts of the Machine:
Darkness had fallen over the Digital World, the last rays of sun illuminating the smoldering Dark Spires, downed by the digidestined only hours before. And while the dark streams of smoke sent joy to the oppressed it infuriated the oppressor. Dark glasses glowed with the light of the video screen, reflecting the battle, a gloved hand clenching in fury as it progressed.
The fist finally slammed onto the consol, eliciting a shower of sparks and a yelp from the digimon on the floor below. "Master" Wormon cried scurrying away from the sparks. Ken growled at the show of weakness, opting to let it go in order to voice his thoughts "How is it they continue to defeat me? I am after all superior in every way possible" stopping only to glower at his digimon "well almost".
Wormon shrank away, feeling even more inadequate choosing to answer honestly "Friends, mentors, the eggs…"
Ken turned "What did you say?" he asked sharply. Wormon didn't know what to do, scared he's upset his master. Now the Emperor rose "What did you say?" he asked again, is tone demanding nothing short of an answer this time. "Friends, mentors, the eggs" he stuttered backing away as if expecting to be struck. However the blow never came, Ken instead sitting back as his computer, fingers flying over the keys in a blur.
The main monitor above sprung to life, one by one images of previous battles coming up, most notably when the tide had turned in their favor. A trend began to fall before his eyes, nearly every time one of the digimon achieved a new level, one of more of the older children was present. The scenes of battle disappeared, only to be replaced with images from a newspaper.
Wormon moved forward to get a better look, every digimon had been raised hearing the story of the original and how they had saved the Digital World, but he had never seen them. Ken highlighted one of the group pictures, centering around the children in front of a trolley. The pictures filled up the screen and his fingers stopped moving, violet eyes starting to study the picture.
"Master what are you looking for?" Wormon asked unsure of what this old picture would tell. Ken didn't answer instead bringing up more articles. "Found it…" he muttered happily as Wormon edged even closer to look at the screen. He didn't have to move much closer as Ken focused on the red head known as Izzy "Koushiro, never seen without his laptop…" he read throwing his head back in a triumphant laugh, he finally had them, and he would get them before it began.
"We totally beat him" Davis whopped jumping into the air for the fifth time since leaving the computer lab "Did you see me Kari?" he asked "Me and Veemon when we knocked over that Spire" clapping his hands for emphasis. Kari gave a small smile, "Yes Davis" she said in a sweet voice, Takeru the only one to pick up on the hint of annoyance. Davis bounced off again, pulling Yolei and Cody to his side to repeat the battle blow by blow.
TK came to her side, giving her shoulder a squeeze. Kari gave a genuine smile in return "It must be something about the crest of courage that makes them like that" she said referring to her brother. TK gave a small laugh "Lets see how much of the Friendship comes out, if its anything like Matt he be punching himself in no time" referring to his own brothers tendency to disagree and fight with the leader. She laughed slowing her pace a bit so she could get a better look at the trio walking before them.
"It's amazing how they embody the others sometimes" she said thoughtfully.
TK nodded in agreement "Maybe it's something to do with the crests, something about the person or personality enables its powers". Kari just shrugged her reply interrupted by Davis once more "TA stop hitting on my girl back…" he didn't get a chance to finish his sentence as Tai came into view.
Davis bolted off into a run, anxious to give his account of the battle to his mentor.
Nearly a week later Izzy bid his parents good night and retired to his room. He sat lay down on his bed and rubbed his tired eyes. It had been a week since their last victory and a week since they had heard anything from the Emperor. Davis and Tai insisted that they had beaten him so badly he had decided to give up, the others believed he was planning something and whatever it was is wasn't going to be good.
The young genius had racked his brain trying to think of what he could be up too, perhaps a new dark ring, or even a monster perhaps…His thoughts started to slow and his eyes drop resting for a moment on the picture that had been taken just before leaving the digital world…dark eyes shot open. His old laptop had always been next to the picture and now it was gone.
In a panic he looked around the room, tearing open drawers knowing deep down it was gone. Hands shaking he grabbed the phone and dialed the first number that came to mind. After a few rings a groggy voice answered "I was about to score the winning goal at the World Cup so this had better be good" Tai mumbled.
Izzy was already in motion loading up his newer laptop "My laptop is gone" he blurted out. Silence followed only increasing his frustration "You know the one I had in the Digital World" again more silence "it has everything about us, the crests, evolutions, battles, everything one could want to know about us!"
That had done it "Do you think it was stolen?" the leader asked the seriousness seeping into his voice. Izzy scrawled a note to his parents "Nothing else was missing, and my parents never touch it, it's the only plausible solution". He could hear Tai moving know a groan from Kari hinting he'd shaken the girl awake.
"I'll call the others…the park sound good to you?" Tai asked.
"Fine" Izzy replied running out the door into the night. Outside the apartment building Ken stood in an ally a superior smirk on his face and a yellow pineapple laptop in his hands, the genius had noticed it missing sooner that he would have liked, but that didn't matter. The secrets of the Digidestined were now his.
Matt stretched his tired body onto the grass in the small clearing of the park, waiting for the other destined to arrive. He had just finished a long set and was crawling into bed when his phone rang, he's been so tempted to let it ring until he saw who it was…and here he was. He'd used the short walk to consider why anyone would take the thing…and come to the conclusion that one would have to know what was on it to be after it.
"You the first one here?" a familiar voice asked.
Matt smiled and looked up to see his brother "Yes, did you have any problems getting away from Mom?" TK sat down next to him "She understood…wasn't happy about it…but understood". The elder smiled knowing it had taken their mother while to come to grips with the role her children played in the fate of an unfamiliar world as well as their own.
TK looked to the edge of the clearing as Tai and Kari arrived. A fire burned in the leaders eyes, the fire they held whenever he was about to lead them into battle. Kari on the other hand look worried, TK was about to ask what was wrong, closing his mouth as she shook her head slightly.
"I called everyone but the new kids, they'll be here shortly" he said sitting down and as if on cue three more Digidestined entered the clearing. Izzy looking the most harried of the bunch. He'd hardly sat down before he started "First thank you for coming and second I'm sorry".
Sora was the first to answer, her eyes soft as always "Sorry for what, you didn't give it away".
Izzy shook his head "I should have destroyed it after we got back…" Tai interrupted him by raising his hand "Don't even say that because I know the information you have on it has come in handy in some of our recent battles so instead of blaming yourself tell us exactly what you had on it".
Dark eyes still full of shame he took a deep breath "Everything that happened in the Digital World. For starters I have profiles on all the Digimon we came across and extensive profiles of our own complete with evolutions, dates, and what triggered them. Second there are the crests, who the crests belonged too, where we found them, and what they stood for. Maps of the areas we traveled, including the locations of where we fought our major foes. The prophecy as well as any other correspondence we had with Genni, and finally a journal I kept throughout the journey." Silence fell after he finished and the weight on his shoulders grew.
"Is there a chance whoever stole it was merely after the computer and not the information on it" Joe asked trying to look on the positive side. Izzy shook his head "I have a lot more valuable equipment that would have been better to take".
Joe sighed "Who out there would know what was on it enough to take it".
"Ken" TK said looking up quickly as if a light had gone off "he must have somehow found out you had it while in the Digital World, he must think he can use it to further his conquest".
While everyone nodded in agreement Tai voiced his thoughts "That has to be it!"
The weight became crushing for Izzy "The passwords and protection I have on it won't last long against the likes of him…you and the others need to be ready for what he's going to do with it". He said referring to TK and Kari.
"Or do we try and stop him from getting the information?" Matt asked "We could try to sneak into his fortress and take it back…maybe even leaving a present of our own in his computer". Izzy smiled at the prospect of dumping a killer virus in his computer.
"I don't know about the virus but I am for getting the information back" Tai said looking to his sister who had been quiet for most of the night. Kari felt his eyes on her and not wanting to raise alarm agreed quickly "Yes, should we call Yolei and the others?" and while Tai dismissed the quiet and continued on with the plan another set of eyes set on her, Takeru again looked concerned. Ever since the Dark Ocean the bond they'd had had only deepend.
The plan had been forged, beginning at dawn, allowing them to retire for the night. As they departed Sora placed a comforting hand on Izzy's shoulder "Don't worry your security will hold, I'd like to see the look on Ken's face when he tries to breach it".
Hours later a group of tired Digidestined faced Davis and the others to prepare for the mission "Your telling me there was a secret Digidestined meeting last night, and we weren't called" he pouted pleading eyes looking to his mentor for explanation. Tai sighed passing an equally pleading gaze to Sora for help. As always she was ready to step in, her voice soft and maternal "We just wanted to be sure it would concern you…after all it doesn't contain any information about you three".
"I have a new laptop with that" Izzy piped in from opening the computer.
Davis was still pouting but remained quiet when Cody answered "We understand, but please don't feel like we are a burden or don't understand…we're all Digidestined no matter what". The elder group felt a small twinge of shame once again.
"You are not a burden…your part of our team and we promise to include you in everything from now on" Joe said.
Matt spoke next his blue eyes holding a haunted look "But please remember we lived through some true nightmares in our original mission, most of which we haven't shared with anyone outside out immediate group. And now Ken had a record of those nightmares…."
Davis was about to interrupt when Yolei stamped on his foot "You've got it, now tell us what we're going to do about Ken" .
Izzy's fingers flew like those of a master pianist over the keyboard bringing up another series of maps. Tai sat on the desk "First we need to find where he's hiding, we'll break up into groups and ask the Digimon if they know where his stronghold is or it will lure him out to attack, in which case we are going to attach a tracking device to him or Wormon. We will check in with each other every hour, even at night…"
"Did you say night?" Yolei asked surprised, they'd never gone on a mission overnight before.
Tai nodded "We need to be ready to stay as long as it takes, Izzy has some serious security on that thing but its only a matter of time before it gets broken, we don't have time to waste transitioning between the worlds". Satisfied there were no more questions at the moment he continued "Once we know where the fortress we'll have a two pronged attack with one group hitting with a direct assault while another smaller group sneaks in to capture the laptop".
"And what happens if it gets breached before we can get it" Cody asked.
"I guess it will depend on what he was after and what he's going to do with it" Izzy answered.
"In other words go on the offensive" Matt finished.
It was then that the doors to the lab opened allowing TK and Kari to enter. Their arms were laden with supplies "Mimi will meet us in an hour" Kari said handing off some of the bags to her brother "She left a couple of minutes ago".
"Then everyone take time to take care of any personal business, I don't know how long we'll be or when we'll be back" Tai said standing aside watching the others file out.
"Are you going to tell me what's bothering you?" Matt asked as he watched the last of the shadows disappear down the hall. Tai looked up he too checking to see that everyone was gone "The prophecies" he said grimly knowing he couldn't hide anything from Matt.
Matt nodded "I know, he's one of the first villains we've faced that hasn't been gunning for TK and Kari, your worried if he reads the prophecies he'll go after them". Tai nodded in agreement, "He's already gone after Agumon, I don't want him to know what the angels can do to the digivolving process".
"Then we'll just make sure he doesn't find out" he replied beginning to divide the supplies "and be ready if he does…"
Davis crouched next to the door listening to his mentors conversation, he had forgotten his bag and had come back to fetch it when he caught the worried tone in their voices. Fearing he would be discovered, he took off down the hall, reaching Cody and Yolei outside. "You forgot your bag" she said a hint of annoyance in her voice". Davis grabbed them both by the arm and lead them down the street "Not important" he said looking back "you won't believe what I just heard".
The pair looked at him skeptically "You were eavesdropping" the younger asked.
"No" he said quickly "I overheard. Now do you want to know what I heard or not". Yolei and Cody looked at each other before Yolei answered "Spill it".
Davis took a deep breath "Have any of the original digidestined talked about prophecies". Yolei nodded "Izzy said its how they knew they were destined to save the digital world, he also talked about one that helped them defeat Myotismon". Davis felt himself deflate a little bit, "Did you know that TK and Kari were a big part of it?".
"They were all part of the prophecy" Yolei said getting annoyed, they were wasting time just standing here. Davis too was frustrated "No they key, I heard Matt and Tai talking and they said Ken was one of the first villains that weren't specially after TK and Kari, they also were talking about how their angles did something about digivolving".
Cody offered a small smile "To be honest is doesn't surprise me, the holy nature of their digimon would make them huge targets for anything evil. And then Angeles are known for miracles and from I do know that's what it took to take down Myotismon. It also explains why Tai wants to get that laptop back so bad".
"Its not just that" Yolei added "you've seen how Izzy keeps records, I'd be worried if there was something about me on that computer".
"I still feel bad that they didn't tell us about any of this" Davis pouted checking his watch "its like they don't trust us or something".
"I just think they are entitled to what happened to them, they'll let us know when they are ready" Cody said, as always wise beyond his years "The experience they had in the Digital World was much different that the one we're having. They were thrown there, no guides, few supplies, and no way home."
Davis nodded "I know, and I do understand…lets head back I don't want to be late".
"Will you please tell me what's bothering you?" TK asked unknowingly asking the same question as his brother. Kari sat down on the swings allowing Gatomon to jump into her lap before going into motion. Her guardian looked at her with worried eyes "You'll feel better if you talk about it" she offered. TK sat in the swing next to her, Patamon resting on his head. Gently he took her hand and looked directly into her eyes.
"I know you feel something coming, I feel it too" he said finally getting a spark out of her.
She shuttered "Something terrible is about to happen, I've felt it ever since our last battle with Ken. Izzy kept such extensive records, Ken can learn anything he wants about us, even things he doesn't want to know. What if he goes after Gatomon and Patamon? He already took Agumon once and that was before he read the prophecy".
TK could see the weight lift off of her shoulders as she talked. "Using Angels of Despair and Darkness to get SkullGreymon and whatever Gabumon's dark form is" finishing her thoughts.
"But we'd never do anything like that" Patamon protested from above.
TK patted his head "I know you would never intentionally, but Agumon didn't either. When the dark rings go on you can't remember a thing or control you actions. What would you do if Ken threatened us?" Both the guardians remained quiet and looked down and the sandy ground. "And you know what our brothers are worried about right now?"
"That we played as just as big of part in their downfall and they need to protect us" she answered. Gatomon piped up "That's our job" she said "and we won't let anything happen to either of you. If he even looks at you wrong I'll claw his eyes out".
"And I've told you I will always be there to protect you. We'll beat Ken once and for all and maybe get a Digital World a lasting peace" TK said squeezing her hand feeling a warmth is his chest, as if his crest was still there.
Wormon watched silently from the door way, his heard going out to his master as he struggled to break the code on the small yellow laptop. Ken had been working at it for hours, not eating or sleeping, causing guardian to worry. So he carefully balanced a tray of fruit on his head and scuttled into the room "Master" he asked quietly getting the clacking of keys as his reply. He approached Ken sliding the tray onto the desk "Master you really should eat something".
Ken narrowed his eyes and kept working, frustrated that a mere 'child' was managing to keep him from getting what he wanted. He'd tried every password and trick he knew, and yet nothing seemed to work. Slamming his hands on the desk in frustration he sent the fruit to the floor. Wormon cringed slinking back in fear. "How can he be keeping me out!" he shouted not expecting an answer, surprised when he got one. "Why don't you just ask him for it?"
Violet eyes narrowed in annoyance "He's not stupid enough to give it to me…." he paused and eerie smile forming crossing his face "but he would open it for himself". The small Digimon looked confused, he had obviously pleased his master, unfortunately he didn't know what he had done so he could go it again. Ken pulled out a small black case, removing a pair of goggles, checking to see if they were okay. Satisfied he pulled up the main map of the digital world, calling upon his sensors to find the Dig destined "It seems they have split up, interesting… come Wormon, we have a Digidestined to crack".
Izzy sat up with a start, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes scolding himself for falling asleep on his watch. He glanced around seeing everyone asleep, breathing a sigh of relief that Tai hadn't caught him. To make sure it didn't happen again he pulled out his laptop, deciding a little busy work would do him some good. As he turned on the power he froze, swearing he heard the soft sound of laughter filter through the clearing. Heart pounding and holding his breath he waited for a few minutes, relaxing when the digimon didn't alert to the noise.
Dismissing it to his overactive imagination he entered the first of his many passwords and began working on his map. He added the area they had been that day as well as any Digimon they may have encountered. He worked by the soft fire light until another voice made him jump "What are you up too?"
Izzy whirled around as Tai settled in next to him "Couldn't sleep". He genius offered a small smile "I was just mapping where we had been today". Tai studied the map, coming across an unfamiliar symbol "What's that?"
"Where we found Sora's crest" he replied zooming in on the area.
"What other information about the crests to you have on here?" Tai asked. Izzy found this odd, Tai had never shown such an interest before, and to top it off he hadn't once looked across the fire to check on Kari. But Izzy always enjoyed informing, opening up another one of his password protected file "Well you can see where we found each once, the circumstances surrounding it…."
Mimi quietly made her way back to camp, taking a few moments to look at the starry sky above her. She'd never imagined that they would ever be off on another adventure in the Digital World and yet here they were chasing down Izzy's computer. How she had loathed that thing, how the red heard always gave it so much attention, seeming to ignore everyone and everything else around.
However, that loathed machine contained at lot of information that they had to get back. They had split up upon arrival with Tai, Matt, TK, Kari, and Davis in search of the Emperors stronghold and Izzy, Joe, Cody, Sora, Yolei, and herself off to find Genni. It also gave them all an opportunity to work with their heirs, allowing them to pass on their skills and knowledge.
She was now approaching camp, freezing when she heard cold laugher and muffled screams coming from their campsite. Moving quickly but quietly she peered through the bushes to see Ken standing over Izzy, controlling some sort of goggles that he'd attached to his head. Wormon seemed to be occupied with wrapping the others up with his silky threads, rendering them harmless.
"How do you think the crests work?" Ken asked, his voice clearly giddy with excitement. Then to her horror Izzy began to answer "I think that the crests are a reflection of our inner selves and our Digimon feed off of the power it creates. For example when Joe sacrificed himself to protect TK it elicited such a strong sense of friendship in Matt that it caused his crest to active and Garurumon to Digivolve".
Mimi couldn't let him do this as she jumped into action, grabbing a long branch from the ground "On no you don't" she shouted running into the clearing. Wormon didn't have time to react as the Bearer of Sincerity whipped him into the brush, quickly moving onto her next target.
Ken thought he was ready for her, dropping the device and bringing his arms up to defend himself. But to his own horror and surprise she didn't go for his upper body. She twirled this stick above her head a few times before she dropped to the ground in full splits, bringing her stick around in a vicious swipe at his knees. She connected sending him to the ground. Not waiting for him to get up she dipped her stick into the fire, lighting the end.
Using her legs flip back up she swung the flaming end around ready to place it at the intruders throat, only to find he wasn't where he had fallen. Stepping back she went into a defensive position, watching Ken gather the computer.
"Drop it" Mimi nearly growled taking measured steps forward.
"Not a chance" he spat back "Not when I've finally gotten somewhere" then letting out a long whistle "I'm amazed I haven't stumbled across the power of your crests before. Lets just see how powerful you are without them".
Mimi advanced with her weapon, getting ready to go for his legs again, only to be beaten back by a powerful gust of wind. The fire went out and she went to the ground, flipping her pink hair out of the way just in time to see Ken flying off on the back of an Airdramon. In a fit of rage she threw her stick after them, only to have it fall harmlessly into the forest.
When he was out of site she scrambled to Joe's medical bag, removing the scissors in order to cut the others free. "When did you learn how to do that?" Joe gasped as she set him free.
Mimi just shrugged "I was tired of being the weak one so I took some classes". Joe moved quickly to check on the unmoving Izzy, pulling the tendrils off of his forehead. Cody was up next he too gaping at what he had just seen "You should train with Grandfather sometime". Mimi just smiled "We'll talk about that later, right now we have bigger problems to deal with".
Sora nodded pulling the netting out of her hair "Ken knows about the crests and the password to access all the information he didn't get from Izzy".
"Is Izzy okay?" Tentomon asked a bit of panic in his voice. Joe initially didn't say anything "He'll be fine, get my bag and I'll wake him up".
Matt threw another log onto the fire and settled in for the last of his watch. It had been a long time since he'd done this but found that few things had changed over the years. Tai still snored louder than a herd of elephants, only he was now joined by Davis, making Matt wish for the stillness of the night. Gatomon slept curled up at Kari's head while Patamon had settled into TK's hat.
He looked fondly at his little brother, still seeing the innocent eight year old that had started on this journey so many years ago. An innocent he had sworn to protect at all costs. He knew he had a right to be worried about Ken finding out about the crests, especially the nature of his brothers and Kari's. Devimon and Myotismon had known and they had nearly killed them.
"Something on your mind?" a soft voice asked, snapping Matt out of his revelry. TK had moved across the fire to sit next to his brother, eyes piercing already searching for answers. Matt knew better than to lie to him but was still hesitant to bring up the subject.
"Yeah Squirt I do, but your not going to like it"
TK offered a small smile "Does it have something to do with what's on Izzy's computer and my part in taking down some of the most evil Digimon we've faced". Matt should have known "Yes, you seem to have given it some thought as well".
"Kari and I talked about it before we left… we both have other concerns. Kari's felt the balance shifting, something bad is on the horizon. We're also worried Ken would come after Patamon and Gatomon if he knew what they did to Agumon and Gabumon". Matt nodded in agreement not voicing his concern about the personal danger they might be in. "I don't know about you but I don't want to see Angemon's or Gabumon's dark form".
Matt placed a firm hand on his shoulder "Don't worry, were not going to let Ken use anyone for anything. He'll go down like all the others".
"I know"
A soft beeping made its way over the drone of snores, and Matt shoved Tai sharply in the side getting him to roll over. He tried the same thing with Davis only to find that it made the noise worse. Groaning he strained to see whose bag the noise was coming from.
"Pinch his nose, that's what usually works for me" TK said with a small smile opening he D-Terminal to receive the message. Matt did was he'd said and sure enough Davis rolled over into a quieter slumber.
"Wish you'd told me that an hour ago" he said with a smile, a smile that faded when he said the look on his brothers face "What?"
TK's face was white as he re read the message to make sure he had it right "The others were just attacked, Ken attached some sort of device to Izzy and tricked him into giving up the passwords, he also learned about the crests". Matt let this sink in numbly grabbing his canteen, dumping its contents on the sleeping leader.
Tai shot up sputtering "What was that for?" he demanded stopping when he sensed the tension in the air "How bad is it?"
To Be Continued…
Okay let me know if you want more!