Hi! I know, long time no see, and I'm sorry… Don't think I forgot about this story. My comp's been busted for three months. Anyway, beginning this week, new schedule! It'll be at the bottom, for those interested.

Chapter Ten

Gervartitymon was pleased. Two of the five DigiDestined were captured already, the last three on the way, and, last he'd heard, the scientists back in the Real World had nearly finished their calculations. Everything was going according to plan. With a smirk, revealing razor white teeth, he walked down the stairs into the dungeons. It was time to pay a certain captive a visit. He came to a stop in front of a cage.

"So?" He asked the inhabitant coldly, not even giving him a glance. "Have you changed your mind?"

"Not on your life!" The voice sounded young, indicating the owner was indeed a rookie. "I'll never join you!" There was a hint of a growl. The head of the Digimon came into light. It was a green dog, with a pointed snout and ears. He was baring his own fangs.

"Are you so sure, Skatemon?" Gervartitymon gave a malicious smile. "I've finally found your partner for you." The dog whimpered.

"No… Drake…"

"Oh yes," Gervartitymon said sweetly. "If you'll just join me, the two of you can fight alongside each other, just like you always wanted. If not… Well, I'll just kill him. Like the other humans that get in my why." He chuckled. "It's funny that humans are the only thing that can further the progress of weak-minded fools. They're so weak themselves. Unlike us, when they die, they don't get reborn."

"Fine!" Skatemon shouted. "I'll join you. Just… Leave Drake alone."

"I thought you might say that." Two of the salamander Digimon, Slikemon, appeared on either side of him. One opened the cell door and dragged the dog out. Briskly turning to walk away, he said loudly to the guides, "Take this mutt to get fitted for his collar." Skatemon was dragged to a dark doorway down the hall.

---

Leslie and Brian ran. It was the only thing they could do. Barely able to dodge their assailants' missiles, they hoped they were heading in the direction of the others. They soon found that they weren't, though. There was a dead end when they found themselves at the beach, Gervartitymon's dark tower looming over them.

"Hurry! This way!" Brian shouted. They were going to have to run along the beach, but it wasn't as easy as the forest. Their shoes sank into the sand, slowing them down. All the while, the hornets got closer.

"Can't ANYTHING go right for us!" Leslie screamed in desperation, tears streaming down her face. Then, like it had been waiting for the right moment, a Digimon emerged from the sand right under the teens' feet. It appeared to be some kind of lizard, resembling a chameleon in sand colored camouflage. Below it was a hole.

"Hurry," it hissed. "Hide before they get here!"

"How do we know we can trust you?" Brian asked boldly, glaring at the creature.

"There's no time," it said. "Just go!" Realizing that they had no other choice, they jumped into the hole. The Digimon laid back down on top of it, looking once more like a sand dune.

---

Jenn ran through the rough foliage, Draimon and Ravmon flying along either side of her as she held Gomamon. It had been a bad idea to begin with, splitting up, but there was nothing they could do about it now but try and find Brian and Leslie. They hadn't been running very long when they began to hear a low, rumbling noise.

"What's that?" Jenn asked, listening intently. Ravmon cocked his head, stopping quite suddenly when he recognized the sound. The others stopped, too.

"What is it?" Jenn asked again. Then the other two Digimon recognized it as it drew closer.

"Hornetmon!" They all three said in unison. The two flying Digimon shoved Jenn under a bush, where they his, and just in time, too; a swarm of large hornets, each as big as Ravmon, flew overhead. All four crouched quietly, hoping they weren't seen.

(laughs evilly) A cliffy! Well, kinda… I don't seem to be any good at them… Anyway, the schedule!

Monday: Digimon: Online

Tuesday: Amulets of the Dragons

Wednesday: The Devil Experiment 2

Thursday: 'Tis my day off! Ha!

Friday: Chosen One

Nothing on the weekends, 'cause I can't guarantee I'll be on, or that I'll type. Well, that, and the fact I don't have any more stories to update right now…

Okay, you know the drill! R&R, and I don't mean rest and relaxation!