Author's Note: All right, thanks to a few personal messages and a review I have made my decision. Hardwired will be continued, but from this point on this is the second part of Hardwird, A.K.A Deity. I thank for those who gave their input, and now here is a bit of an apology. I am sorry I made the last chapter so indecribably short, but I have made up for it by making this one much longer then usual. I hope this helps balance the scales.
Part 2 of Hardwired
Deity
Chapter 1
Return to the Digital World
The sun was just beginning to rise over the Shinjuku district. In the morning light, in the beauty of the sun rise, the city glowed like a rare jewel. In the center of the area a massive construction site stood silent. For the second time, the Hypnos building was being reconstructed. The building was still nothing more then a steel skeleton, the work having only progressed over a course of two weeks. Still, the project was under budget and moving along ahead of schedule. Not bad for a government funded project.
Though the building was nothing more then a skeleton, the staff of Hypnos was still at work. At a rented warehouse on another side of the city, they prepared for the big day. A month since the D-Hades, and four months since the D-Reaper incident, they were finally prepared for the task given to them. In the warehouse hundred of computers had been set up. Wires ran everywhere, laid out across the floor like a fine net. They were all tapped down, so even if some did trip on them it would do no damage to the wire itself. Against the back wall of the spacious warehouse Yamachi's latest creation, The Olympus Gate.
The gate was inspired by Stargate SG-1. A large ring made up the frame of the gate with a ramp leading up to the edge. When Yamachi and Monster Makers had designed the system to bring digimon back from the digital world, they had never intended to send anything there. When they heard the tamers had to return to the digital world, they found there old machine would not be able to do the job. They had to go back to scratch, using the same principles of digital to real conversation to create the Olympus Gate.
Yamachi stood in the center of the room, the light from outside beginning to filter through the windows near the roof. Yamachi smiled, the light glistening off the silver metal of the gate, making it look like a great halo. With a gentle hand Yamachi reached into the pocket of his suit jacket, and pulled out a cell phone. He pressed a number for the speed dial, and wait for the phone to ring. It was time to call in the search and rescue team.
In another part of town a phone rang. It was in the house of Rika Nonaka, and it was her grandmother, Seiko, that was first to answer it. Up on the roof, gazing up into the brightening sky was a yellow, fox digimon. Her fur shown in the morning light, but her eyes shown with their own light.
Renamon sighed, her mind going back to the day they had fought the D-Hades. One moment had filled her mind for the past month, and had even entered the realm of her dreams. It was that single kiss she and Jason shared before he did what had to be done. Risking his own life, facing an unknown fate by destroyed the essential part of the Juggernaut core. Taking away the tool the D-Hades needed to survive, killing it and ending its evil creation in a single swoop.
That moment replayed it self in Renamon's mind several times. Even with a battle raging in the distant, everything had fallen deathly quite. There heads had moved closer, Renamon's tilted up to meet Jason's. He was, after all, a foot taller then she was. The memory continued Jason closed his eyes as Renamon let hers slide shut. For a few seconds, there was only darkness. Then, Renamon could feel a pressure against her lips. It was Jason's lips meeting her, and it sent jolt through her body. It had been an amazing feeling, and one Renamon would never forget. It had been her first kiss, at least from someone she had such powerful feelings for.
In truth, those emotions had made that kiss more then she had ever experienced. It had sealed Jason's promise. They would see each other again, and she could feel that it would be soon. At that thought, Rika came running down the deck. She stepped out into the yard, looking at Renamon with a smile on her face, "Renamon."
Renamon looked up at her tamer, who just held up a thumps up and said, "Pack your bags."
Renamon quickly put two and two together, jumping down from the roof in one swift motion, "I have no bags to pack. I am ready when you are Rika." Rika nodded her head before moving towards her room. She disappeared through the door for a few seconds, coming back with a duffle bag slung over her shoulder, "Good, because I already had my bags pack."
Renamon smiled, and the two bid Rika's mother and grandmother farewell before they began to make there way to the warehouse where Hypnos had set up their temporary facility. Thirty minutes later, a bus pulled up in front of the warehouse. Rika stepped off, Renamon materializing beside her.
Standing in front of them was a huge set of bay doors that could be opened to let almost anything into the warehouse. Beside that door waited all the other tamers. Takato was standing, talking to Guilmon about the how peanut butter was made. Henry was leaning up against the warehouse wall, Terriermon standing on his shoulder. Terriermon was taking with Guardromon, who had taken to standing beside Henry while Kazu and Kenta had an argument. MarineAngemon was floating above their heads, trying to calm the fight. Jeri was standing by herself, holding Calumon gently in her arms. Impmon had fallen asleep on a small patch of grass in front of the door, and was snoozing gently.
When Yamachi decided to allow Tijgmon and Jason's rescue mission, he had made it clear that Suzie, Mako, and Ai were too young to go. He also wanted a digimon to stay behind, one that could reach the mega level, incase something happened while the other gone. Ryo, Cyberdramon, and Lopmon had volunteered to stay behind, and so had Impmon at the time. Still, Ai and Mako had insisted that Impmon go and help the others find Jason and Tijgmon.
The Henry looked up when the bus began to pull away, smiling a bit as he said, "I was wondering when you two would get here?"
Rika glared a bit at Henry, "Shut it Brainiac. It's not like were late."
Takato looked away from Guilmon, "Still, I wonder when Yamachi will let us in."
Henry stood up straight, pushing off the side of the warehouse, "He'll let us in when its time. We weren't supposed to be here until 9:00."
Takato walked over, "So, what time is it now."
Rika pulled her cell phone out of her pocket, and flipped it open to check the time, "It's around 8:45."
Takato hung his head a bit, "Great, I have to keep talking to Guilmon about peanut butter for another fifteen minutes."
Rika and Henry smiled, chuckling at Takato as Guilmon walked up and began to pester him about the difference between creamy and chunky peanut butter. Renamon had walked over to where Impmon laid sleeping, giving the trouble making digimon a tap on the head. Impmon swatted her hand away, mumbling something about another five minutes. Renamon gave Impmon a more forceful strike on the head.
That time, Impmon had sat up quickly, rubbing his head, "Hey, what was that for. Renamon, you watch it yourself. One wrong move and I swear I'll blast you with my Corona Destroyer."
Renamon shook her head, "You have always been all talk Impmon. Think for one second. If you tried that stunt then Rika and I would Bio-merge into Sakuyamon. Then, you can just imagine where the battle would go from there."
Impmon gulped, his imagination playing into how badly he would get his butt kicked by Sakuyamon. He then grumbled a bit, standing up as he brushed some grass of his legs, "Ahh…you're not worth my time."
Renamon chuckled to herself as Impmon walked off, fuming a bit. She always enjoyed getting the little imp digimon boiling. It was too easy to get under his skin. Before Renamon could continue her torture the tamers and digimon heard an engine kick on. The warehouse's bay doors began to roll up. As the door slowly rose up, the tamers began to see the huge operation that had been set up in the warehouse. Japan tax dollars at work, and well spent in the tamers' opinion. After all, they had saved the city form destruction at least three times if not more.
The tamers and digimon slowly walked into the hall, there eyes gazing about as Yamachi strolled up to meet them. He looked at them from behind his sunglasses saying, "Well, I appreciate the fact you were all here a little early. Now, we have all been over this before. Still, since I have gotten to know a few of you, I will repeat again. For those who may not have listened the last time."
Yamachi eyes fell on Kazu and Kenta, who were so lost in the vastness of the warehouse that they hadn't heard a single word he had said. It took Henry forcing a cough to get the two to pay attention. Yamachi bowed his head a bit, thanking Henry before he began.
Their mission was simple, to go to the digital world, find Jason and Tijgmon, and bring them back. Easier said then done. First, the tamers would be sent to the digital world via the Olympus Gate. Then, they were to wait for one day. By that time Yamachi and the Monster Makers would be able to transfer some transportation for the tamer and digimon to use. Then, the vehicle would take them to where the monster makers believe Jason was.
Their newest version of Juggernaut, which Yamachi called Zeus, had been able to map the digital world. For the first time, the tamer would be able to know exactly where they were and where they were going. With the Zeus core, the monster makers had been able to narrow the search for Jason. They knew he was on a certain level of the digital world. It was a realm of the digital world characterized with large rolling plains, gentle streams and rivers, and light forests spread out across the area.
Yamachi gave the tamers a warning. Recently, the Zeus core had been getting some strange readings from the area. Digimon were living on that plain in an amazingly high concentration, much more then they should be. There was also some unknown entity on the plain. It wasn't a digimon, but the Zeus core was unable to identify anything else about it.
As Yamachi began to finish, he moved in front of the Olympus Gate. He turned to face the tamers, "You now know the risks, and you know your mission. I will once again state that I don't approve of sending you kids into the digital world. I will make one final attempt in convincing you to let a team of adults go and get Jason."
Takato shook his head, "No way. Jason is our friend, and we should be the ones to bring him back."
Henry nodded his head, "Takato's right. Besides, we are the ones that have fought of the D-Reaper and its latest incarnation, the D-Hades. I think we have proved that we can take of ourselves."
Yamachi sighed, but nodded his head, "I didn't think you would change your minds. All right, I guess I have only one thing left to say." Yamachi paused, and the tamers looked at seriously as the head of Hypnos took of his sunglass. Yamachi lowered his voice, mocking a military general, "There are thirteen of you leaving, and I expect fifteen people to come back from the digital world. Do you understand?"
The tamers and digimon played along with Yamachi, each snapping into attention as they said, "Yes Sir."
Yamachi smiled, pulling out his lighter as he flicked it and made a small flame dance in front of his face, "Then lets light this candle." The tamers stood back from the gate as the many Hypnos technicians began to run about the room. The Olympus Gate began to activate, the outer ring spinning quickly. A blue and green aura appeared in the frame, rippling and turning as if it was water. A light flashed from behind the barrier, and the image began to clear until it showed an image of a desert. It was the outer layer of the digital world, where the tamers had first arrived in the digital world.
The Yamachi gave the tamers a final nodded of the head before they marched up the ramp and through the portal to the digital world. There eyes were blinded by the bright light. It was like walking into a boiler room, the hot air hitting the tamers and digimon like a wall. After there eyes adjusted to the light, the tamers began to look around. The tamers smiled, they were in the digital world.
Behind them, the Olympus gate slowly disappeared. Still, before it closed Yamachi ran up and through something through as he called out, "Don't forget this?"
Takato ran up, fumbling with the device in midair before managing to get his hands on it. As the Olympus Gate disappeared completely, Takato looked down at the device. It was the old communication tool Yamachi had given them for their first trip to the digital world.
Kazu walked up behind Takato, looking at the commutation device as he said, "Oh great, that thing didn't work the last time we were here. What makes him think it would work now."
"Because we tested it." Kazu jumped when he heard Yamachi's voice come out of the small, black plastic device. On the screen, Yamachi's face appeared as he continued to say, "This is Hermes, named after the messenger of gods in the Greek Parthenon, and for good reason. This device has a direct link with the Zeus core, and if you need any help from this end you can just give us a call. Now, go find a place to wait for a few hours. We'll have Trident up and running by then."
With that, Yamachi broke off the connection. Takato stared at the screen blankly as he said, "What is Trident."
Kazu shrugged his shoulders, "Probably the car Yamachi promised us."
Kenta blinked a few times, "Yamachi didn't tell us he was sending us a car."
Kazu turned to Kenta, "Well Chummily, he said he was sending something to take us to where he thinks Jason is. What else could it be?"
Kenta looked up a bit, letting his mind wander, "It could be a bus."
Kazu groaned, "Dude, he wouldn't send us a bus."
"Sure he would. You can't fill all of us into a single car."
"He'll send more then one Kenta."
Kenta shook his head, "No, Kazu, Yamachi said he would send one thing."
Rika walked up to Kazu and Kenta, and then thumped each on the head with her fist, "Were in the digital world for five minutes and I have already had all I can take of your voices. Why don't we just wait and find out."
Kazu glared at Rika, "Seriously Rika, you need to lighten up. We were just messing around."
Kenta nodded his head, rubbing the spot where Rika had hit him, "Yeah, why can't you be like Jeri. She's actually nice, and dresses like a girl should." Kenta quickly regretted bringing up Rika's clothes. Before he could react Rika had thumped him in the head again. This time, the blow was hard enough to make Kenta fall back on his butt. Kazu began to laugh, but soon met the same fate as his friend as Rika hit him a second time.
Kazu growled, "Hey, what was that for?"
Rika crossed her arms, turning away from Kazu, "I just felt like hitting you again." Kazu glared at Rika, but decided to let the argument die. He didn't want to get hit again, and knowing Rika the third time she would have knocked him out. The rest of the tamers began to talk calmly, the question of what Yamachi would send popping up again. This time, however, the conversation did not escalate into an argument. At the same time Calumon, Guilmon, Terriermon, MarineAngemon, and Impmon had began making a sand castle. It was hard in the dry desert sand, but it was still a way to pass the time. Guardromon was content to stand and watch the castle construction while Renamon stood silently, staring off into the distance as she began to wonder about Jason.
As the day wore on, the tamers and digimon decided to walk over to a nearby cliff and get out of the sun. It had been six hours since Yamachi had called them, and still nothing had appeared. The tamers began playing with their digimon cards while the digimon played short games to pass the time. Takato was taking a brake from the long string of card games when he noticed something on the horizon.
As the figure drew closer, they saw it was a pair digimon. The first was an ultimate level Weregarurumon, a werewolf digimon with white and blue fur, torn pants, and a few other articles of clothing. The other was a rookie level Gabumon. Takato and the other tamers were afraid the pair would attack, but paid them little heed as they drew closer. Then, just as the Weregarurumon and Gabumon were passing a line of darkness whipped by, and it was nighttime in the digital world.
The Weregarurumon and Gabumon stopped, looking around a bit. As they stood there, a curious Calumon floated over and said, "Hello."
Weregarurumon turned to look at the little white digimon floating around his head before looking over at the tamers. He was a little surprised to see humans, but he hid it well. The Gabumon, however, let his jaw hang open as he looked over the tamers and their digimon.
Jeri walked up, grabbing Calumon out of the air, "Sorry for bothering you."
The Weregarurumon shook his head, "No bother at all. Still, I have never seen humans before. Tell me, what are you doing in the digital world?"
Jeri smiled a bit, "We are searching for a friend of ours and his digimon. They got sent here during the battle with the D-Hades. What about you two? It looks like your trying to get someplace important."
The Weregarurumon smiled, walking over to where the other tamers were relaxing, "We are heading for the city of Peradium."
Takato blinked a few times, his eyes glancing up at sky, "I knew there were villages and small communities like that in the digital world. Still, I don't ever remember hearing about a city. What about you Henry, do you know a Peradium?"
Henry shook his head, "No, I have never heard that name before."
Gabumon moved forward, a bit of a childish tone to his voice, "Man, where have you guys been. It is only the biggest news in the digital world."
Takato smiled weakly, "Give us a break, we just got here from the real world a few hours ago. You are the first pair of digimon other then our partners we have seen all day."
Weregarurumon chuckled a bit, pulling Gabumon back a few feet by his tail, "Then, please, allow us to spend the night with you. Then, we can tell you all about Peradium." The tamers agreed, and after the group ate a light meal Weregarurumon began his story.
Peradium had become a legend in the digital world. According to the rumors, the city had appeared just recently. It was in the digital grasslands, protected by mountains that had risen up just as mysteriously as the city. The rumor was the city was a safe haven for all digimon who were tired of fighting, and worrying night if they would wake up the next morning.
Peradium was the first city in the digital world, with hundreds of different digimon living and working together. They had built homes, magnificent public buildings like a library, bath house, and even an amphitheater. The farms yielded large amounts of food, and in such a variety nothing grew dull. A pair of canals cut through the city like a great "X", feed by a pair of waterfalls on either side of the city. The canals provided water to the farms before flowing out of the city, through hidden pipes to an underground river that took the water to the digital ocean.
Weregarurumon paused, letting everything he had told the tamers sink in before he said, "Now, the greatest part of the city is not a building or road. For many years it was believed that the Sovereign digimon were the ultimate power in the digital world. The final part of the rumor, if it is true, says that there is a power greater then the Sovereign. It is a literal god, a manifestation of universal power that guards the city. It is said the god protected a few digimon, built them homes, and fed them. From those beginnings came Peradium. Now, at the great altar of Peradium, it is said the god performs miracles that provide food, water, lumber, ore, and hundreds of other things for the city."
The tamers awed, and were silent for a few seconds before Henry asked, "So, this city is in the digital grasslands. On that level of the digital world."
Weregarurumon nodded his head, "Yes, why do you ask?"
Rika leaned forward, looking at Henry, "What are you thinking about Brainiac?"
Henry glanced at Rika when she called him by one of his least favorite nicknames. Still, he answered her by saying, "Well, if Peradium is in the grasslands I would bet Jason and Tijgmon have found there way to the city by now. Even if they haven't, someone there would have surly seen them. I think it is the best place to start our search."
Rika nodded her head while Kazu leaned forward and asked, "So, Weregarurumon, how far is it to Peradium from here?"
Weregarurumon scratched his head a second, thinking about the answer a bit before he said, "My guess, it is probably another two weeks to Peradium on foot."
The tamers all turned their heads and shouted, "WHAT?"
Kazu groaned, leaning back, "I hope Yamachi's transportation is fast. Otherwise, it will take us a month just to get to Peradium and back."
Kenta nodded his head, "Yeah, and that doesn't even include the days we would spend searching for Jason and Tijgmon." The tamers sighed, agreeing with the two bone-heads. Still, what little choice did they have in the matter? After a few more minutes the tamers and digimon drifted off to sleep. The only one that did not sleep that night was Renamon. She had leapt up to the top of a nearby cliff, and was looking at the horizon.
Renamon felt the cool night breeze on her fur, taking it in before letting out a slow, relaxing breath. Two weeks, she would make that journey if she had to. Jason was worth it. Still, Renamon could not help but wonder if Jason had not given up on them. What if something had happened to him in the two weeks since his E-mail? Renamon then shook her head. She could not start thinking like that. It would only make it easier for her mind to forget about the long, black hair tamers.
Renamon chuckled a bit, remembering the first time she had seen Jason. He had been at a party where the presents were her and the other digimon partners. At the time, he was still dependent on a computer to stay alive. He was in a wheel chair, Tijgmon resting gently on his lap. His long black hair hiding the coils of wires that hung out of the back of his head. Usually, waist long hair didn't look good on a guy. Still, Jason pulled it off nicely, even after the coils of wires had disappeared thanks to his Bio-merge with Tijgmon.
As night passed, the light of day neared a whistled filled the air. Renamon turned, looking into the distance. In the digital world there was no dusk or dawn. It just shifted between night and day in the snap of a finger. Riding on the horizon, following the line of day as it raced across the digital world, something in a huge plum of dust was roaring towards them.
The digital world shifted to day, and the massive dust cloud skidded to a stop near the tamers. Renamon leapt down from the top of the cliff, landing beside Rika as the other tamers slowly walked up to the strange device. All of the sudden, a phone ring began to fill the air. Takato pulled out the Hermes communicator, pushing the on button. In a second, Yamachi's face came up on the screen and said, "Sorry it took so long. We hit a bug in the program. Now, I present the fastest mass transit in the digital world, the Trident."
The tamers looked up as the cloud of dust settled and revealed a large, navy blue steam engine. It was a huge train, stretching out a long ways from the front to the back. The engine itself had six drive wheels, and three smoke stacks with the tallest in front and the shortest in back. Along the side of the engine, a golden trident shown off of the blue paint.
Behind the engine was a tender. The tender, which usually held coal or wood, was filled with the pink data packets that drifted around the digital world. The fragmented and generally useless was being turned into a fuel for the train. Behind the tender were six train cars that were painted with the same, navy blue, paint.
As the tamers stared in awe at the train Yamachi's voice came out of the Hermes communicator, "You can consider the Trident as the son of the Ark. We used the base code, and increased the size. This thing can't take you back to the real world, but it will make your travel in the digital world much faster and much more comfortable. You notice there are six cars. The first car is a lounge car, which includes a small kitchen. The next three cars are sleeping cars. They have been designed to hold two tamers and two digimon a piece. The first car is Takato, Henry, Guilmon, and Terriermon's. Rika, Jeri, Calumon, and Renamon will be staying in the second. Finally, the third car goes to Kazu, Kenta, Guardromon, and MarineAngemon. The last two cars are extras. This is where Impmon will stay, and any other digimon you may decide to pick up along the way."
Kenta turned, pointing his finger at Kazu, "Ha, I told you he wasn't sending us cars."
Kazu grumbled, "Well Chummily isn't a bus either."
Takato shook his head, "Enough you two. Who cares what it is? This thing, the Trident, will easily cut our journey to Peradium down to just a few days." The tamers nodded their heads as they began to walk towards the shining blue train. Something began to move inside the engine box, and soon a robot poked his head out of the window. He looked a lot like the tin man from the Wizard of Oz. The difference was his head resembled a smokestack and he was dressed in clothes that made him look like a conductor.
The tin man waved at them as he called out, "Hello, I am Axle. I am the engineer, conductor, chief, and everything else that keeps this train running. The Trident also has a mind, much like the Ark did. Still, let me be the first to welcome you all aboard."
Tamers smiled, beginning to board the train. Jeri was the last to board, stepping onto the train before glancing back at Weregarurumon and Gabumon. She paused, noticing that they were looking at the train with longing eyes. Jeri quickly jumped down, running up to the front of the train as she called out, "Axle."
Axle stuck his head back out of the engines window, looking down at the small tamer, "And what can I do for you?"
Jeri looked back at the two wolf type digimon, "Is it all right if they come along. We are heading to the city of Peradium, and they were the ones that told us about it."
Axle smiled, "Well, Yamachi guessed that you and the other tamers might make some new friends while you were here. That is why he included the last two cars. They are just like normal passenger cars, with rows of seats and stuff like that. Those two can go ahead and take a pair of seats in those cars. I'll bring them back some dinner after we get underway."
Jeri smiled, turning as she waved at Weregarurumon, "Come on you two, all aboard."
Weregarurumon and Gabumon smiled, running up to the train. Jeri quickly moved back to the lounge car as Axle explained a few rules to Weregarurumon. Soon, the pair of wolf digimon were in the back of the train with Impmon. When everyone was on board Axle's voice came over a set of speakers in each car, "Well, hold on a second. We are about to get underway."
Axle set the microphone back on the council, and then began to shovel data packets into the Trident's furnace. The train began to roar to life, and soon was roaring across the digital desert. Since the train could not use normal means to get in between different level of the digital world, it had to create its own. To get to the digital plains, it would have to travel to a certain part of the desert and then use a special program to make the leap between the two worlds.
Five minutes after the train had gotten moving Axle's voice came back over the speakers in each car, "Well, at our current speed we will reach the digital plains in three days. After that, it should be just a few more days before we find the city of Peradium. Now, sit back, relax, and enjoy your ride aboard the Trident."
The tamers laughed a bit as they began to look around the lounge car. There wasn't much against the front or back walls of the cars except doors to get to either the train's tender or the first of the sleeping cars. In the back, right hand corner was a small kitchen set up. It was surrounded on all sides by a tall counter and bar stools. It kind of looked like a something you would see in a 70's burger joint. '
Against the rest of the right hand wall was a few recliners, a large couch, and a few small tables which separated the variety of comfortable seats. On the left side of the train there was a flat screen TV and a stereo. Other then that, both the left and right walls were taken up with windows that showed the outside landscape rushing by as the train charged forward.
After a few minutes of looking around the lounge car the tamers and their digimon began to make their way back to the sleeping cars. The first car belonged to Takato and Henry. The sleeping cars were laid out so a small hallway ran around the outside of the bedrooms, running up against the left wall of the car. Then, the rest of the space in the car was walled off and then split in half. Each tamer got one of the medium sized rooms, each one labeled with their name and their partners name on the outside of the door.
Henry and Terriermon moved into their room, and saw that it had been done up like Henry's normal bedroom. There was a bed, closet, and a dresser drawer, but more importantly there was a large computer set up in the back right hand corner of the room, right beside the window.
Takato and Guilmon's room also had a closet and a set of drawers for clothes. Other then that, there was a bunk bed and a drawing desk which was prepped with sketch paper, pencils, and a wide variety of color pencils.
In the next car had been done up in an ancient Japanese style. This was mostly because both Rika and Jeri lived in or had family that lived in a house of that style. Jeri and Calumon's room had a futon, a closet, and a table with a chair. On the table a variety of flowers had been laid out beside a small vase. Jeri smiled, wondering how Yamachi had found out that one of the hobbies she had picked up since the D-Reaper incident was arranging flowers.
Rika and Renamon's room resembled Jeri's except for a few key differences. The first was there were two futons, one for Renamon and one for Rika. The second was that beside the table in the corner of the room was a meditation pad for Renamon to use. On the table, in place of flowers, was a battle mat for the digimon card game a few unopened packets of cards.
Kazu and Kenta's rooms were laid out pretty much the same except for one thing. Due to Guardromon's size Kazu's room took up more of the sleeping car then Kenta's. Yamachi made up for this though by putting a computer in Kenta's room and leaving Kazu with a table and writing pad.
That left Impmon, who moved to the first of the two normal passenger cars. They looked like old style train cars with pairs of seats that faced each other and outlined a window. Impmon began to grumble until he saw something lying on the first seat on the right. It was a piece of paper and an envelope. Impmon picked up the letter, and began to smile slightly as he read. One benefit he had found with having Ai and Mako as his tamers. They were young enough they were still learning how to read and write. He was able to sit in on those lessons, and learn how to read without anybody realizing it.
Impmon eyes then moved over to the envelope. Yamachi had written the note, and was apologizing for not getting Impmon a room. Too much to do and too little time. As an apology, he spent a few hours one night and was able to reassemble an old friend of his. That was all the note said.
Impmon put down the paper and picked up the envelope. With a quick fire he burnt the top of, and a set of keys gently fell into his hand. It was two keys that were identical to each other. The keys were on a keychain, and on that key chain was a small piece of paper. On that piece of paper a single word had been spelled out, "Behemoth."
Impmon stared at the keys for a few minutes before he began to smile. In an instant he ran to the back of the train, paying no mind to Weregarurumon or Gabumon who had taken seats in the last car. Impmon got out to the small deck on the back of the final car. There, setting gently on its kick stand, was Behemoth. Impmon jumped up and down a few times, smiling widely before he moved to put the keys in the ignition. All of the sudden, a mechanical hand reach out of the roof, Axle's voice coming from a nearby speaker, "I am sorry Impmon, but you can't be riding Behemoth just yet."
Impmon growled a bit, but nodded his head. He could wait a few days to ride Behemoth. The motorcycle had proved a great ride when he was working for the Devas as Beelzemon. Now, even though he would he call himself a "good guy", the bike would still serve a great purpose to Impmon's, biker like, mega form.
Soon, lunch time rolled around. The tamers heard Axle's voice come over the intercom, asking all tamers and partner digimon to make their way to the lounge car. When the tamers entered the car, they saw Axle standing behind the counter. He was wiping down the counter before he smiled at them and asked, "So, what would you like for lunch?"
The tamers and their digimon quickly made their orders, and with amazing grace Axle prepared all of the orders at once. The only one who had not ordered anything was Renamon, who quickly disappeared from the car. As the tamers ate, Renamon found her way to the engine. She looked at the many controls, but then noticed something in the center of it all. It was a large, navy blue, sphere that was embedded in the metal. Below it was a small rectangular screen with a green line down the middle.
As Renamon was looking into the strange blue, glass, sphere a male, computer like, voice said, "Hello Renamon."
Renamon stood up, caught off guard. The engine was talking to her, but against her common sense Renamon replied, "Hello, I am afraid I don't know your name?"
"Of course you do. I am the Trident, the train that is currently taking you to the city of Peradium in the digital plains."
Renamon nodded her head, regaining her composer, "I remember now, Yamachi told us that you are the son of the Ark, or Grani."
"Yes, my programming is a more advanced form of his. Though I don't have the power to take anyone between the real and digital world, I can make jumps between the different levels of the digital world itself. Now, I would hold onto something."
Renamon raised an eyebrow, "Why?"
"There is an aggressive digimon a few feet ahead that is about to attack us."
It took a second for Renamon to realize what Trident had said. In a split second she moved to the left side window, and looked out to see Zhuqiaomon. Her eyes narrowed, Zhuqiaomon was the sovereign digimon that had sent the Devas to the real world. He had almost destroyed her, Rika, and the others if it hadn't been for the intervention of Azulongmon.
The huge, mega level, bird digimon flew over head. He flew over top of the train, his eyes focused on the engine as he called out, "Phoenix Fire". From his mouth a great burst of fire began to roar through the air towards the Trident. At the last moment the Trident turned to the right and dodged the attack. Zhuqiaomon began to rain a barrage of the fire balls as he chased after the train. The Trident, however, continued to dodge the attacks.
Back in the Lounge car the tamers were being thrown around like sakes of potatoes. Kazu, Kenta, and Takato had been thrown on the floor while Rika, Henry, and Jeri had managed to remain standing. Rika looked out the window, and caught a glimpse of Zhuqiaomon before he disappeared from the window.
Rika looked back at Henry, "It is Zhuqiaomon."
Henry eyes widened, "What, why is he attacking us. I thought we had a truce going with him."
Rika pointed out the window, "Does that look like he is following that so called truce." Before Henry could answer the train shifted violently to miss another barrage of fire balls. Renamon materialized within the lounge car, catching Rika just before she would have fallen to the floor.
Rika growled a bit, looking back at Renamon, "Come on, its time we should that bird to pick his fights better."
Renamon nodded her head as she began to help Rika towards the door. With a final jump Rika and Renamon leapt out of the train, performing a Bio-merge digivolution before hitting the ground. A second later Sakuyamon landed gently on the ground before leaping back up into the sky, already preparing to attack Zhuqiaomon.
Zhuqiaomon noticed the shaman digimon flying up towards him, turning to face her as he said, "You, you are one of those megas that is a fusion of a digimon and a human. Absolutely disgusting."
Sakuyamon floated right in front of Zhuqiaomon, "Well, you aren't a sight for sore eyes either. Now, why are you attacking us?"
Zhuqiaomon growled, "Because you carry two digimon that are going to Peradium. They have been tainted by the promise of paradise, and reeled in by the dark master that has made himself out to be a god. Humph, the Sovereign are the gods of the digital world, and we shall not be out staged by a pair of floating hands."
Sakuyamon blinked a few times, "Floating hands? What are you talking about?"
Zhuqiaomon began to calm down, his rage venting, "We have sent spies into Peradium. They are most loyal servants, those who would give their lives for me and the other Sovereign. They told that the so called god of Peradium is a pair of floating hands. Those hands can shape the earth and dig canals, but it is nothing more then what a child does in a sand box. His power comes from the digimon in the city. At the Altar of Peradium digimon go to offer praises to those hands. Those hands draw on the power of those words, pulling a little bit of life energy from each digimon to power his miracles of water, healing, and fire. He holds no true power. He is nothing without those who worship him."
Sakuyamon scoffed at Zhuqiaomon, "It sounds like you are jealous. If what you say is true then where are the other Sovereign?"
"Do not mock me, for I can turn you to ash in a second. Now, as to the other sovereign, they are already at Peradium. They have been attempting for the past week to destroy the false god of the city. Still, even with our four powers combined we could not destroy those hands. So, I went to recruit more help. I was on my way back to my castle when I saw your train, and sensed the traitorous digimon that were inside."
Sakuyamon nodded her head, "Yes, there are a pair of digimon that are going to Peradium inside the train, but there are others on the train that, like myself, are just searching for another human that has come to the digital world recently. Have you seen him, his name is Jason and he is traveling with a Tijgmon."
Zhuqiaomon shook his head, "I have not heard of any humans in the digital world other then you and the other tamers, those who are actually welcome on this digital plain. Now, are you going to let me deal with those traitors aboard that train, or do you feel like dying for them."
Sakuyamon just smiled, hearing the sound of a rockets coming up behind her. Soon, she was joined in the sky by MegaGargomon and Gallantmon, who was standing on the titanium titan's shoulder. MegaGargomon clenched his fist, pounding it into his other hand, "You care to rephrase that Zhuqiaomon."
The phoenix sovereign backed off a bit, grumbling as he looked down at the train below. It had come to a stop, and was now waiting or the tree Bio-merged megas to return. He then glared at Sakuyamon and said, "Another time. I have to go meet the other sovereign. Just be warned, when the time comes we launch our final assault on Peradium, you had better not be among the ranks of that false god. If you are, even Azulongmon will turn against you."
With that, Zhuqiaomon turned and flew away. The tamers and digimon watched until the phoenix sovereign digimon disappeared behind some rock formations. Within a few minutes Rika, Renamon, Takato, Guilmon, Henry, and Terriermon were back on the train and it continued to roar across the desert of the digital world.