Ben10 & Digimon Tamers
Heroes and Humanity
Part 02: Humanity and Heroes
The Invasion – Chapter 034
Originally Written: September 23, 2015 525PM to September 24, 2015 545PM
Albedo's eyes snapped open. He looked at the ceiling. He slowly sat up.
"Whoa there cowboy." Ryo placed a hand on his chest. He guided him to laying back down. "Just rest. I brought you back to your apartment. Figured you didn't want a scene."
"I can't rest. The Incurseans are-"
"-I know. I heard you." Ryo looked at him, a solemn expression on his face.
Albedo looked at Ryo. Cyberdramon stood behind him, reminding Albedo of an immovable brick wall. He sighed.
"I didn't know you were connected to Terriermon like that." Ryo sat back down in the chair he brought from the kitchen.
"I'm not and I can't." Albedo snapped.
"Bullshit." Ryo replied just as quickly as Albedo had snapped, "How long have you been able to do that?"
"...This is the first time." Albedo clenched his fists, "I didn't not even know I could do that. Whatever it was I did." He closed his eyes.
"This isn't something I can keep silent about." Ryo spoke softly, "When the Invasion-"
"-If you know what I said, then don't act like the Invasion will be overthrown any time soon." He rolled over on the pullover couch, facing away from Ryo. "If the Incurseans find out about Digimon and the connection between Terriermon and Jenrya it's only a matter of time before the Incurseans start attacking with it. Everyone will surely turn against Digimon, you and the other Tamers for sure then.
"Not everyone." Ryo replied with a smirk.
Albedo sighed annoyed.
"You have a lot of confidence in beings you think are idiots."
"That's relative to Galvans, not other humans." He looked at the door to Jenrya's room. He hadn't been in that bed for a while, now that he took a few moments to think about it.
"Then you have so little faith in us."
"Your species birthed Ben Tennyson." He snapped.
"The same Tennyson you're claiming has somehow slipped behind enemies lines, risking his own life."
Albedo heard Ryo shift. Albedo pulled the covers over his head.
"I know you should rest, but we can either sit here waiting for doomsday or actually try to stop it."
Albedo curled up into a ball under the covers. 'Jenrya...' The pain that wracked his person when he felt Terriermon was unbearable. He couldn't move, or control his body. Every nerve felt as though it was on fire. He could only imagine what Terriermon had felt. For all the pain he experienced in his nightmares, this event was on a different level. The only positive outcome was that he hadn't dreamt at all, so no nightmares plagued him. However, the pain he remembered feeling left him wondering if that was a fair trade off.
How far did the connection between himself and Terriermon go? Would he feel it if they hurt Jenrya too? He shut his eyes. He couldn't just leave them there. Every time the Incurseans attacked there would be a risk he'd collapse. What if he did so in the middle of a fight against those who wished him harm? What would happen if the Incurseans were to kill Terriermon or Jenrya?
"Al?" Ryo spoke softly, "We need you Al."
Albedo nodded under the covers, even though he was pretty sure Ryo couldn't see him. "How long was I out?"
"A couple of days."
Albedo rolled over as quickly as his body allowed. He pulled the covers from over his head, "Did you say 'a couple of days'?"
Ryo nodded, "I told everyone you were overworking yourself and convinced you to rest." Ryo folded his arms, "Not like it wasn't true, eh?"
"So, it's Saturday? Or Sunday?" Albedo looked down at the sheets. He ran a hand over his eyes.
"Saturday." Ryo looked down at his lap, "Al? I really can't let this whole thing slide. Mainly for your own health." Ryo looked at him.
"I will not be going into Plumber custody. Even after all this is over." He snapped, glaring at him. "They are overconfident, incompetent fools."
"Terriermon, and Henry aren't overlooked by Plumbers. they meet only with Mr. Wong and the other Monster Makers, as well as a slew of heavily experienced doctors. No plumbers." Ryo stood. "I may be able to get you a large pass, considering all the good you're doing here."
Albedo looked at him, watching him pace. Judging if he was telling the truth. Ryo really was the only Plumber who didn't want his head on a platter. The rest of them were surely brainwashed fools as a result of their own stupidity. It really was the only way he could make the whole thing make sense.
"I will make sure it counts for something, or I will sneak you off this planet myself." Ryo clenched his fists as he looked at him.
Albedo stared at him, lost for words. He looked at Cyberdramon. The digimon calmly looked ahead, as though he were bored. "Ryo?" He looked at the tamer again.
Ryo shrugged, "I get good vibes from you."
Albedo kept staring. "You are an odd human."
Ryo grinned. "I get that a lot."
Albedo shifted his legs over the side of his bed. He stretched his arms, "I'm in need of a shower." he ran his hand over his face, "And a shave."
Ryo only grinned as though he were thinking of a joke only he knew. "I'll need a member of medical staff to check you over when you're done."
"I'm fine."
"For many complications, the starting symptom is 'I feel fine'." Ryo walked to the kitchen. "I'll make us something to tide us over until the Safehouse's scheduled lunch. It's still kind of early."
Albedo watched him retreat. He shook his head, then moved to get cleaned up. He lost a lot of precious time with the incident.
"Without the technology Hypnos has to offer, I cannot perform a more thorough medical exam on you, Albedo."
The red eyed, white haired male looked at Dr. Matsumoto with a bored expression. The doctor had short black hair and brown eyes to accompany his pale skin. For Albedo, it was such a bland plain appearance, so he trusted the doctor's word more than he normally would. He only hoped the doctor didn't turn out to be one of those smart idiots, like his old mentor.
"For now, the only thing I can truly ascertain is that you're showing symptoms of being mildly electrocuted. Your thoughts may be jumbled, where you may have trouble forming coherent thoughts. You may have trouble moving the way you want to."
"My thinking and moving are fine." Albedo folded his arms, hiding how stiff they felt.
Doctor Matsumoto only smiled and turned to face Ryo. "He really should be resting. If his muscle stiffness gets worse, or he finds himself twitching or shaking uncontrollably, bring him to me right away."
"I'm right here." He snapped.
"I've heard about you, Albedo." Doctor Matsumoto kept on with that smile. "You'll treat it as a moment of weakness that will pass. The next thing you know you'll be on the floor with people surrounding you, telling you you had a seizure."
Albedo frowned. He really did not need the Incurseans attacking Terriermon again if this was the threat he was under. He shifted his weight on the bench he sat on. He did not enjoy struggling to remain standing in the shower, or to not tip over when he was sitting on a bed. He ran his hands over his eyes as he felt his mood sour.
"This is a very serious situation, young man." Dr. Matsumoto continued.
"I'm aware." He replied dryly.
"Don't worry, doctor." Ryo moved to stand next to Albedo, "I'll make sure he comes to you if something comes up."
"Hopefully nothing does." The doctor adjusted his coat, "The Incurseans are already dipping their slimy hands into the medical field. I'm hearing they are preparing to file through the medical records of everyone on the planet."
"Health care for the sick and elderly is expensive. I'm sure you know." Albedo remarked. "Anything that negatively impacts their ability to generate positive income..." He waved a hand as the doctor turned even more pale. He looked at Ryo, "Forgot what I was going to say." He awkwardly waved his hand, silent.
"We won't let them get that far. They may be plentiful in number, but long scare activities still take time. Eventually they'll start wearing themselves thin."
"They're frog people, in every sense of the word." Albedo quipped.
"Al, stop it." Ryo snapped.
Albedo smirked.
Dr. Matsumoto remained silent.
"Are we finished here, Doctor?" Albedo questioned.
The Doctor nodded numbly, "There is nothing else I can do for you at the moment, Albedo," He looked at Ryo, "but please let me know if anything comes up. I'll do what I can to assist."
"Will do. Thank you doctor."
Albedo stood, and stumbled, but Ryo steadied him. He scowled, "I'm going to maim the next Incursean I see." He muttered as he nodded as he nodded to the doctor. He grabbed his jacket and followed Ryo out of the small room. It had been the bedroom of a vacant apartment where he and Jenrya stayed, but recent events had given it a purpose.
He and Ryo passed through the living quarters of the apartment, where people seeking further treatment for injuries sustained from when the Incurseans deactivated the ID Makes sat patiently. The male who had broken his arm saluted to Albedo and Ryo with his good arm as a female Albedo didn't recognize signed his cast.
"Anything that can be done to keep things feeling normal right?" Ryo commented as he waved to the male.
"Surely they know by now-"
"Negative Benjamin. Cut it out."
Albedo folded his arms, "I am being realistic." He followed Ryo out of the apartment.
"Grab some of that optimism you have for being the rightful owner of the Omnitrix." Ryo shoved his hands into his pants pockets. Cyberdramon, who had waited outside leaning against the wall, fell into step with Albedo and Ryo easily.
"That is not optimism, but rather me being realistic."
"No wonder Takato finds you annoying." Ryo chuckled.
"The feeling is mutual." Albedo smirked as Ryo shook his head.
"I want another battle with that Incursean." Cyberdramon spoke suddenly, voice raspy from lack of use, as it always was.
Ryo turned around, "Yea?" He stopped walking.
"He is strong." The digimon growled out.
"If strong means-"
Ryo slapped a hand over Albedo's mouth. Albedo took a moment to look at Cyberdramon's glowing eyes. He nodded. Ryo lowered his hand.
Albedo forced his mind to work. "You may find that future battle you're looking for."
Cyberdramon focused on Albedo as though daring him to take his response back.
"Bullfrag needs to get to Bellwood. To do that, he needs to show Attea he can do more than just..." Albedo scowled, "toy with us smallfry." He looked at Ryo. "We also need to get into Hypnos, double time."
"We'll get our asses handed to us if we rush Hypnos now."
"If you cannot get past the feral To'Kustar." Albedo replied calmly.
"You want us to get caught inside Hypnos." Cyberdramon growled. "That is not the battle I'm looking for."
Ryo looked at Albedo wide eyed.
"I don't care if Bullfrag lives or dies. Attea is a good general, but a crappy fighter. if you throw the fight, she'll ship him to Bellwood and go with him, leaving fresh fighters to do something with that..." He waved a hand, "my mind is drawing a blank."
"That's a risky plan." Ryo replied, "We'll need to flesh this out more. A lot more." Ryo started walking ahead.
"That is fine with me."
Cyberdramon followed, a glint in his eyes. Humans and smaller aliens pointedly avoided the Digimon and his gaze as the trio passed them by.