After bringing Insekimon to Luke's hideout, Seth and Betamon wander around, Seth lost in thought. "I hate this," he tells his partner grimly. "I wish I could do more to help digimon like Insekimon."

"So do I," Betamon murmurs. "But we can't be everwhere, especially when you have responsibilities on earth." He trails a paw through the lake they're sitting next to, exhaling softly. "You know before Luke there was a guy overseeing everything in the digiworld named Genkai." Seth nods, remembering hearing about him in the past. "He was determined to see our world saved, but... the ways he went about it wasn't very popular. Children were selected to be Digidestined and they were trapped in our world for a very long time, having to depend on themselves to find food and shelter, in some really dangerous situations."

"That sounds awful," Seth says. "Sometimes I'm overwhelmed by it all and I'm a grown man. And I can leave whenever I want to. Poor kids. Did they make it out ok?"

Betamon nods. "Yeah. All in all."

"Is that how Shinsuke got involved?" he wonders, rolling over onto his side and trailing his fingers through the water.

"I believe so," Betamon says. "There were many children around the world who witnessed a battle between two digimon who broke into the real world and that's how they became Digidestined."

Seth nods. "It's always so odd to think about how we were all selected for this. It always feels so random."

"I guess it is," Betamon shrugs. "Luke seems to assign whoever catches his eye to join the group. It's definitely different from how Genkai used to do things."

"Do you think this does better all in all than the old ways?"

"Probably," Betamon says. "I mean, we're not trapped here, and this fight seems easier for adults than children. It feels like we're always struggling against new evil, but the original digidestined were too. And this way, we can keep fighting for peace."

"Yeah," Seth mumbles, trailing his hand lower into the cool, blue water, when he brushes against something and pauses. "Betamon... do you feel-"

Before he can finish speaking, sharp, mind-numbing pain stabs up his palm into his arm and he yelps, pulling his hand out. Betamon immediately moves, staring at him. "Seth. Stay very still," he says lowly, a warning in his voice. Seth swallows and stares down at his hand, the spiked creature embedded into his flesh.

"Betamon," he chokes out. "What is this...?"

"Chikurimon," Betamon tells him somberly. "You have to stay very still, Seth. This creature... will detonate itself to defeat any enemy."

Seth swallows. Hard. "What do I do?"

Betamon stares at him. "Trust me."

"Always," Seth mumbles, closing his eyes and trying to brace himself for whatever may happen next.