"Y'know," Dean says, pacing around anxiously in front of Luke's hideout, "I admit I'm new to all of this, so some of it may be above my paygrade but seems ever since you decided we should be split into pairs, kidnappings and injuries have been happening more often." Dark blue eyes locked on the Digital World's overseer, he shakes his head. "Now Alicia Fox is missin' and I dunno about you, but I don't wanna risk it happenin' to someone else. So if we gotta split up, let it be in teams of four, something like that, so we're not as vulnerable."
He has a point. Luke even concedes when the others, starting with Mike, back Dean up. "Fine, teams of four from now on. If there's any problem, alert each other through your digivices and, as soon as you can, go help the other group."
"Thank you," Dean says, glad to be listened to seriously for once. He might be eccentric and a little crazy sometimes, but all in all, he is intelligent and he does have some decent ideas rattling around. "Now, what are we doing today?" There are multiple problem areas on the digivice but none of them really seem to interest him, or the others. They're just worried for Alicia more than anything right now.
"I want half of you to search for Alicia, and the rest of you to try to clear up these areas as quickly as possible," Luke says, pointing to the map. "Choose what teams you want to be on."
The eight of them split into two groups and Dean is moderately pleased to find he has Del Rio, Ziggler and Zack on his team. Miz, Heath and Wade opt to search for Alicia, and Luke wishes them well as they go. Most of the spots on the map are minor, digimon either spatting amongst themselves or simple rescue missions that are resolved within minutes of their arrival. Until they find themselves face to face with a giant brown ogre with silver hair and evil looking eyes.
"What is this?" Zack mumbles, in awe at the ugly creature.
"Fugumon," Patamon says uncomfortably.
As if angered by hearing his name, the massive Digimon lunges forward and slams the club- that looks like it was fashioned out bone- at them, coming just short of striking Zack and Patamon. Dolph's eyes flash dangerously and he steps forward, Impmon by his side, already digivolving. Wizardmon sneers and lifts his staff, shooting off overwhelming magic that knocks Fugumon back a few steps.
Anger growing, Fugumon swipes again with his club, but this time Wizardmon meets him halfway, blasting a strong beam straight through him. He gapes for a moment before his body destabilizes, starts to delete. His club slips from his now weak fingers and hits the ground before fading into data at their feet as well. "You alright, kid?" Dolph asks once he's gone and they're safe again.
"Yeah, bro, thanks," Zack says, looking from Wizardmon to Dolph.
"No problem. Come on, let's go back to the group, see if any luck's been madein finding Alicia." Dolph hovers a bit close to Zack as they walk, neither man addressing it even after they reappear at Luke's hideout.
No progress has been made to find Alicia. The group grows more and more glum as time passes with no sign or hint, or hope, in finding the woman.
