Shattered Light
By: Linkmaste
Chapter Eighteen: The Deal of a Lifetime
Authors Note: Mako in the alternate reality will be addressed as Makoto, unless in dialogue-just so we can keep these two apart. This is a long chapter but a lot of things will be picking up here. You will get some idea where others are, how the interaction is working and what the dynamics are progressing to here. So, you get a long but important chapter. Let's see why Azazel kidnapped Makoto and what is in store. Maybe we will see another familiar Tamer? Also, you are wondering where the alternate reality Lindy Rose is lurking since she is part of the Anti-Digimon Association. She's going to appear in this chapter too. As well, Ai and Mako are dancing really close to Impmon's dark secret-will they find out?
Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon. I own Lindy (both), Ian, Azazel, Lindenmon, uh-the clown painting? Sure, let's say I own the clown painting-you'll see what I mean.
Makoto awoke in a small room, lights turning on and temporarily blinding him. Everything was white-floors, walls-even the ceiling. All except a silver door directly across him. He walked towards it, cautiously. It was completely smooth and had no knob to turn.
The boy tried to remember the last thing that occurred before he appeared here. It was night...raining...and they had to run from those shadow minions. The strange portal and Ai's brown eyes flashed in his hazy memories. They were trapped and he was sucked into that awful portal.
I hope she's alright he thought looking at himself. His leg was still sore, but okay to walk on. Makoto examined the room.
It was bare. A bed was in the corner and what looked like a picture of a sad clown, was posed upon the wall across the room. Makoto walked closer to inspect the painting.
"A little too sad for my liking."
The smooth voice made Makoto jump. Beside him, a tall man dressed in an immaculate suit stood-talking casually. He had black hair, a well trimmed goatee and bright yellow eyes.
"But then again, I could never understand human art. You could slap some paint on a canvas-looking like nothing and end up selling it for millions."
Makoto was bewildered at the strange man. He was alone just a second ago-where the hell had he come from?
"Who are you?"
The man turned to face Makoto-as if the boy appeared magically. A smile burst from his lips.
"Oh, pardon me! I forgot you were even there to begin with. My name is Azazel, Ancient One of realities." Azazel shook Makato's hand eagerly. "Pleasure to meet you, Makoto."
Makoto withdrew his hand and backed away. This was the guy who showed up at dinner. He wanted Ai to go with him but Beelzemon refused and then...he attacked with those shadow things...
"My partner and sister are going to make you sorry that you took me." Makoto warned, fixing his gaze at the man. The boy bared his teeth, ready to kick the man's shin.
"Oh, I'm sure they will. I mean, they are a fantastic team-those two. Ai can use her powers, digivolve into Witchmon and she gets all the spoils of being a Tamer. What fun!" Azazel clapped his hands and his smile grew.
"It's not-you cursed her!" Makoto lunged at Azazel, but he disappeared with a loud 'pop'.
"Now, let's be honest Makoto," The boy spun around to see Azazel sitting on the bed-patting the empty space invitingly. "A little heart to heart?"
The Tamer didn't move. He reached into his pants to produce his D-Arc but felt nothing in his right pocket. He looked down and around him urgently, recollecting where he had last seen it-
"Ahem."
Dangling by Azazel's pinkie was the device. It was their connection to Beelzemon, and the key to using his digimon cards in battles. Makoto lunged forward, trying to reclaim it. With another 'pop' sound, the device disappeared.
"Let's chat for a few minutes and I'll give it back."
Begrudgingly, Makoto sat down next to Azazel. It felt extremely uncomfortable being this close to the mysterious man. Wrapping an arm around him, Azazel leaned in close. "Now-correct me if I'm wrong-but in a digimon battle, you would usually have to convince Beelzemon to let you come with him and Ai. You would have to argue constantly that you're a Tamer too and you had as much right to be there as her. Am I in the ball park?"
Makato didn't say anything and Azazel took that as his cue to continue.
"And sometimes, they go flying on their own don't they? Making excuses such as 'digimon training'. Or sometimes, they would spend more quality time together than they did with you. But, don't they know that you make the team work? Makoto-" Azazel stared right into his brown eyes. "-you're the strongest one here."
"Yeah, right." Makoto shoved Azazel's arm off and leaned his body against the wall. He curled up his knees and hugged them close. "Ai can fight digimon, I can't. I just swipe the cards and get kidnapped by villains like you."
"Well, would villains offer to set things right?" Azazel dangled the D-Arc in front of Makato. "What if, I could offer you the power of a digimon and have complete control over it?"
Makoto gently took the D-Arc, looking at the screen. It reflected a human boy with no powers-no defense and no respect. He couldn't count how many times he saw Beelzemon look at Ai fondly while he watched from afar. How many times his digimon partner protected Ai while Mako had to save himself. He remembered the feelings of neglect and jealously creep into him.
But, Makoto loved Ai. Ever since she changed, he watched over her-been a crutch for her to talk to others or go out into the world. She could cry at night and sneak into her brother's bed, just to tell him all the nightmares she had. And Makoto would listen. He was her twin brother and that was a special bond in itself.
Still, the power to control being a digimon...
Makoto put the D-Arc on the bed and looked up to Azazel with a new light in his eyes. Temptation slowly crept up inside his mind. Just a little taste...of what it would be like...
"Go on...I'm listening."
Azazel grinned ear to ear.
"It would be a simple trade. You get the powers-I would ask you to help me out with a few errands including convincing our Ai to join us. After that-you're scott free. No strings attached!" Azazel slapped him on the back.
Makoto frowned, "How do I know you're telling the truth?"
Azazel stood up, walking to the metal door. He held out a hand patiently.
"I'll show you proof."
The duo 'popped' outside the door into a bright hallway. It looked clean with its white halls. At the end was another room. It was a recreation room with a large T.V, some video games and a snack bar. Comfy couches were sprinkled everywhere and a nineteen year old teen was looking at the television. He looked so familiar to Makoto...
"Ah, Kazu! Glad you're here still!"
Azazel snapped his fingers and strolled to the elder teen. Kazu smiled and stood up, giving the man a well placed fist bump.
"Az, what's up? My brother! Feeling like a million bucks already!" Kazu looked back at Makato. "Hey, long time no see Mako!"
"Kazu?" the boy stepped forward inside the room. "What are you doing here?"
The teen ran a hand through his wild brown hair looking happy as a clam.
"Just getting the deal of a lifetime from Az here." Kazu turned to Azazel. "What can I do for you?"
"I was wondering if you could possibly...present your new skills to our young Makoto here."
"No problem! I've been dying to try it out."
Kazu got excited like a puppy feasting on a large bone. In a flash, Kazu disappeared. In his place stood an android digimon around eight feet tall. Black armour covered his thin body and two large hands. Upon his back were two laser swords. His face could been seen through his helmet, his brown eyes looking down in amusement at the surprised boy.
"Kazu here is one of our new and improved hybrids," Azazel explained, digging through his pocket and producing an amber vial filled with some kind of liquid. "Much thanks to this."
"What is it?" Makoto asked, peering at the vial questionably. Azazel pocketed it.
"A taste of true power."
Kazu changed back with a cocky grin. Encouraging Makoto, he explained how incredible it felt to have so much power running in your veins. It felt good to be a hybrid. The best of both worlds-a perfect blend.
"Now, don't pressure him." Azazel put up a hand, and placed it gently on the boy. "It's completely up to him."
Makoto was amazed. The power to change into a digimon-no strings attached! All he would have to do was convince Ai to join them...Well, he convinced her to eat glue once-this shouldn't be any harder. His eyes looked hungry, craving the power in that tiny vial. Temptation had ensnared him-tangling him into wanting a taste of power and more. He remembered faintly Beelzemon describing this feeling when he first changed into his mega form...
Azazel almost had the boy right where he wanted him. Just one final push.
"I'll also cure Ai."
Makoto bit his lip. This was too tempting! He could save Ai. Plus, he wouldn't have to be weak anymore! No one would pick on young Makoto Haruki anymore. He made his decision, and his eyes flashed dangerously.
"Azazel," Makoto put out his hand. "you got yourself a deal!"
Kazu congratulated him and Azazel shook his hand happily.
"Trust me, you won't regret it." his voice sounded like silk, and was so reassuring.
The man lead Makoto back to the white room where a chair mysteriously appeared in the middle. It reminded the Tamer of the dentist office with the padded seat and a silvery medical tray off to the side. Azazel gestured Makoto to take a seat with a wave of his hand.
"How does this work?" Makoto got comfortable, but feeling nervous in his gut. Hopefully, the change wouldn't hurt too much. Anything like Ai's change would be torture. He can still remember hearing her shrieks of pain...
"Well," began Azazel, filling a syringe with the mysterious amber liquid. "we need to replace your DNA with some data. Just hold still-this might sting."
The needle slipped into Makoto's neck and with a gentle push, the liquid was deposited into him. Makato let a groan escape his lips, but he refused to cry.
"Now, this next part might hurt-so I suggest you count from ten backwards."
Makoto did not even get a chance to ask anything else before his body arched back. A pain the boy never experienced before hit him like a sledgehammer. It felt like a million white hot, knives were stabbing all of him at once. A blood curling scream erupted from deep within him and he sewn his eyes shut. Azazel left the room, leaving Makoto to handle his process of becoming a hybrid. The man turned back and mumbled to himself as a second thought,
"Hm, that does look like it hurts. Maybe I should have told him to count from twenty."
A week had passed since the quartet had been bunkered at the Katou residence trying to find some kind of lead or clue that could one, find Azazel and two, cure hybrid Ai. Finding any information on Azazel was next to impossible. Lindy and Jeri looked through text books, the internet and even paid Yamaki a visit in jail. Nothing other than some biblical references to a fallen angel and some bitter rant from Yamaki. The ladies were pretty sure they were not dealing with a demon despite what Beelzemon theorized.
"I'm tellin' ya. He's a demon. They got this show called Supernatural and there's a demon named Azazel in it-totally same guy." he explained. Jeri looked unimpressed.
"Beelzemon, what have I told you about watching American T.V?"
The mega grinned,
"It's better than any of the other crap-"
"Language and it's a stupid show." Jeri frowned but the corners of her mouth were twitching-almost trying not to laugh. She had been on his case lately about his foul mouth but it only resulted in the demon digimon giving a temporary promise. With Lindy around, it seemed like Jeri was trying to enforce the rules but was failing miserably. Not that Lindy had any better luck trying to keep the language to a minimum.
"What's Supernatural?" Impmon asked.
Oh, had Lindy and Jeri not wished he asked that. Beelzemon and Impmon binge watched season one and season two of the series when they weren't out patrolling. Despite the rocky beginning, the two actually didn't mind each other. They treated each other like brothers, playfully making fun of each other or competing at everything. From arm wrestling to how many times they could trick their respective partners on who was who. (Lindy shrieked when she accidentally snuggled with the wrong Beelzemon, making everyone laugh. Her face stayed red for a few days.)
"Hey, Lindy." Beelzemon said one day as the blonde woman was reading another textbook with Jeri.
"Hm?"
"What's up with the ugly hair cut?" he asked, giving a mischievous grin. His answer was an icily look that made Impmon snort his drink. Her hair was let down but the shaved side of her head was still noticeable. When the imp finished retelling his prank, Beelzemon roared with laughter.
"I gotta try that one out."
"Don't you dare put anything in my shampoo Beelzemon, or you can consider yourself out of the house." Jeri warned giving an identical icy look that Lindy had. The two digimon muttered something about being 'just a prank'.
"Would be nice for you two to help us with all this research." Lindy said gesturing to the piles of books and computer. Impmon shrugged,
"Can't read. Sorry, toots."
"You don't have to sound so happy about it." Lindy grumbled picking up another textbook and flipped through it. She looked at Beelzemon. "Can you read?"
"Nope. Words go all funny-Jer told me it was 'deslyssia' or somethin' like that."
"It's dyslexia-," Jeri corrected and pointed to the three children playing outside. "-and you're going outside to make sure they don't fight again. The least you can do is supervise them."
"Aw, but Jer-"
"No buts, Beelzemon. Impmon, you too. Out." Jeri replied firmly. The two sulked outside, getting ready to play twins were ecstatic about hybrid Ai at first. A third person in their duo that understood them. Hybrid Ai herself had been surprised, coming out of her fever to find not one but two Impmon look a likes waiting for her. She pleaded to Impmon and Lindy to help her control her powers. They had to carefully explain that it wasn't training or meditation that worked-it was the fact that the Ancient Ones had cured them-or well, gave them the ability to control it. Without the Ancient Ones, hybrid Ai was stuck.
"I remember I was seven." Ai told the two one night, while she was recovering from her fever. "Mom noticed I stopped growing with my brother. She cried for a long time from finding that out..."
Prangs of sympathy hit Lindy and Impmon hard. They were going to try their best to fix this mess one way or another. A drive kicked inside Lindy and she hit the books harder than she ever had before. Impmon frequently went around the area to find anything to help locate Azazel.
After a few days, it became apparent that hybrid Ai liked having Mako around, especially. It was not hard to figure out why. Her Mako went missing and she has met someone walking around that is like him. Naturally, she clung to him. A fiery rage of jealously emerged within human Ai, like nothing she felt before. Mako was hers. Then the bickering began. For once, Mako was between two ladies-fought over like a dog bone. He tried playing neutral, but was losing patience with his actual sister quickly. They would argue quietly when Impmon or Lindy were not around and by the week's end, they held contempt for one another.
"Ai, you don't have to be so jealous-it's yourself!"
"I don't care, Mako! She can't just pretend your her brother. You have to stop being such an idiot."
"Me? You're the idiot here, Ai! It's no wonder everyone at school thinks you're weird-you get all clingy!"
Ai hated her counter-part. Who would have thought she was a brother stealer? Tensions rose higher when hybrid Ai, and the eleven year old girl actually got into a brawl one night. Hybrid Ai made a sly comment saying that Ai wasn't a strong Tamer. That caused Ai to lunge at her, punching her in the face and holding her down by her pink bandana. Lindy had to drag Ai across the room and pin her down while Beelzemon and Jeri made sure hybrid Ai didn't digivolve. She started to glow, trying to reach her champion form.
"You are too young to still be doing this. What's going on with you?" Lindy sternly asked her Ai with a concerned expression. While Ai was talking to her partner, a struggle was ensuring on the other side of the room with Beelzemon, hybrid Ai, and Jeri.
"Let me go..." hybrid Ai grunted, struggling. She snarled and revealed her fangs but the mega was used to this. Beelzemon growled,
"You are not digivolving-I won't let ya."
"Ai, you need to calm down." Jeri said.
"No!"
Hybrid Ai relied on her Mako to socialize and feel comfortable in the outside world. She got possessive over this Mako-following him around like a puppy and asking him to play with her all the time. The arguing was finally simmering down after the first week when Impmon and Beelzemon put their foot down. The two Ai's were told to shake and get along. They did but gave each other dirty looks while doing so.
Hybrid Ai had become fond of Lindy, especially when she showed her the digivoultions she could achieve. Out them all, the girl loved Lindenmon the most. The two talked a lot when Lindy wasn't researching, however there were some things that Lindy refused to talk about. One was her past before she met the twins, and another was a secret that took the others for a loop.
"What's your middle name?" the brown Impmon asked one night.
"I'm not saying. For all you know I'm Lindy Haruki." the dark blue rookie replied one night. Mako gave a strange look.
"What's the big deal? Just a middle name."
"Yeah Lindy, tell us." Ai pleaded. Lindy shut a book.
"No, I don't want to tell anyone my middle name-can we just drop it?"
Even Impmon got curious to his girlfriend's stubborn secret.
"Just tell me-it's just us."
"No."
"Please?"
"No."
"I love ya." the imp kissed Lindy on the cheek.
"I love you, too." she replied giving him a lovingly glance.
"...And?"
"No!"
When the second week was about to end, Impmon, Lindy and the twins were beyond their wits. No new information, no sightings of Azazel, and with everyone in the house, things were not better. Jeri put a hand on Lindy one night after she scrolled through a website on alternate realities, and found nothing useful. Impmon just came in from another day of searching the city for Azazel or anything leading them to the missing Mako but as usual, there was nothing.
"Let's take a break and make dinner together. You told me you were a good cook, right?"
"According to Impy, yeah." the hybrid blonde blushed and joined Jeri in the kitchen. The two happily chatted away catching glances outside where the children were playing.
"Ai, what's it like being part digimon?"
Mako and the brown furry hybrid were up in the tree of Jeri's backward, playing hide and seek. Mako's sister was seeking, and they were hiding. They needed something to do while Jeri and Lindy were preparing dinner.
"Didn't Lindy and Impmon tell you themselves?"
"Yeah, but they didn't tell us everything. Give me the full details."
Ai sighed, curling up her tail. "Sometimes, it's the coolest thing ever. When I first digivolved into Witchmon, I felt amazing-like I can be a completely different person. A more confidant and powerful one." Ai's smile faded. "But you can lose yourself to that kind of power-let it go to your head like I did..."
"What happened?" Mako asked, forgetting the fact that his actual sister was calling for him. Ai could wait.
"I got too eager. Beelzemon had to make sure I didn't hurt anyone before I lost enough power to change back. Mako almost got hurt because of me."
Ai hugged her brown knees close, looking guilty like a scolded puppy. Mako looked outwards, to the house.
"I don't know if I speak for myself here, but no matter what-I'll always be there for you, Ai. Hybrid, human or anything."
Ai looked up, dazed at the counter-part of her brother. She went over and hugged him tightly. She wanted her actual brother Mako here, who would tease her about her height, but hold her hand when they went out to play with some kids. He wasn't here. Only this other boy that was also named Mako, looked like Mako-but wasn't her Mako. After a moment, she loosened,
"I miss him..."
"Don't worry Ai, we'll find him." Mako rubbed the hybrid's back. She leaned away, catching a glimpse of her partner, Beelzemon. He looked through the door, and was keeping an close eye on the children. Jeri must have put him back on babysitting duty.
"Mako."
"Hm?"
"Did Impmon tell you...about his past?"
"Like, when he ran away from us when we were little?" Mako gave a confused look.
"Yeah, what he did in the digital world...did he ever talk about it to you or Ai?"
Mako shifted to make himself more comfortable on the tree branch.
"Bits and pieces. We actually never got the full story..."
"Well, you should ask." Hybrid Ai glanced at Mako with a strange look in her eye. "It's important you and Ai find out."
"Why-" Mako was cut off by a muffled voice from his pocket. The vibration of his D-Arc made him pull it out, staring at the glowing screen.
"...Mako..."
"Uh." he looked at Ai and jumped out of the tree and ran to his sister. Ai had her D-Arc out as well, looking back at the hybrid Ai with intense jealously. She knew they were talking...
"Did you hear that, sis?"
"Yeah." Ai pursed her lips, giving a dirty look to her counter part. She lifted the D-Arc up. "Hello?"
"...Tamers of the other world. I have advice for you." the female voice spoke mysteriously.
Ai and Mako looked at each other.
"Let's get Lindy and Impmon."
Within five minutes, the quartet gathered in the kitchen staring at the battered D-Arcs on the table. Both were glowing, making static sounds. The voice crackled as it spoke.
"To find lost loved ones and yellow eyes...you must seek the Anti-Digimon Association."
"Are you talking about the other Mako?" the brown haired counter part asked, gripping Ai's arm.
"Yes, along with his parents-held hostage by Azazel."
"Tai and Yuki," whispered Lindy, she felt Impmon give her a reassuring hug. "Where is the A.D.A?"
"I...," crackled static overcame the voice. "...there is someone who knows of it's location."
"Well, who is it? Stop messin' around and tell us!" Impmon gritted his teeth. Whoever the voice was, sure loved to play the 'vague as a Chinese fortune cookie' game.
"...Lindy Rose..." the crackle continued. "...seek her... will be revealed."
The D-Arcs stopped glowing and the static ceased. Impmon almost wanted to burn the devices. Stupid DemiDevimon for breaking the stupid pieces of junk. Then something interesting happened.
A light shot out of them, like it was presenting a hologram of a digimon. Instead, it showed a moving image. Impmon looked closely, it was the others! Guilmon, Renamon and Terriermon were all pulling their Tamers out of some kind of pool. The image changed to Takato, Henry, and Rika all bundled in blankets looking determined. Crackled voices drifted in and out.
"...trials aren't something to take lightly..." the D-Arcs crackled again and it pointed to Rika. She was soaked and shivering.
"...we'll try again...prophecy..."
It shifted to Takato who looked sad.
"We need to do this for Primary Village...for all those digi-eggs."
Henry talked next.
"And we need to stop this 'yellow eyes'. Whoever he is..."
Lindy looked to Impmon with utter confusion. Was this really happening? Were those six trying to stop Azazel too? What was Primary Village? Impmon had a completely different reaction...along the lines of shock and remorse. That was all the D-Arcs could muster as they clattered to the table and went dark.
"The others are involved in this too..." Ai mumbled. "And what was Primary Village? What digi-eggs?"
"It was a myth, I never thought it was actually real." Impmon whispered. "That when digimon get deleted they come back...as digi-eggs...it actually exists?"
"So...Azazel is after the village?" Lindy pieced it together. Somehow, the Tamers were in the digital world going to try to help save the village. She stood up.
"Then we need to really get out of here and help them. They have no idea who Azazel is and what they're getting themselves into."
"Good idea, but we're stuck here." Mako touched his D-Arc gently. "Lindy Rose..." he glanced at his partners, who gave an defeated sigh.
"I guess we have to go get her." Lindy did not sound happy, her gloved hands clenching and her fangs baring.
The four went to Beelzemon and Jeri and asked about Lindy's whereabouts. Jeri didn't seem to be too keen on explaining where she was. However, Beelzemon was more than happy to admit that she had been captured by Rika and Renamon.
"Captured? What is she, a wanted woman?" Ai cried, looking shocked. Beelzemon held up a finger.
"Munchkin' don't forget here-she ain't like crazy, awful haircut here." Lindy glared at Beelzemon who smirked. "She's more dangerous...and more hateful. She basically lead the A.D.A to try and capture us."
"And she's a killer." Jeri's lips twitched. It seemed that Lindy Rose was responsible for the death of Guilmon and Takato, however the hybrid was firm on defending her counterpart. She might have done some twisted things, but she didn't kill the loveable dinosaur digimon nor did she kill Takato.
"Jeri, there was no way she could have done it. Erika Rose killed them-not her. But, she does need to answer for her crimes..."
The four spent a little longer pulling information out of Beelzemon, eventually gathering that Rika and Renamon were at their old place. It had become a kind of head quarters to the Tamers that were left in the city. So, starting tomorrow, the group had a new mission: to bust out Lindy Rose.
The good news was that Rika and Renamon were located at their home with Lindy Rose. The trouble was afterwards, they would go berserk trying to find her again.
"Ya need to lay low for a few days. Hideout in a motel or whatever, but don't come back here-they're gunna ask me first. I'll make them lose your tracks and you can bring her over afterwards. As much as I hate to see her again..." Beelzemon made a grunt.
"Can't be helped. This is our only lead." Lindy said frowning.
The plan was made up by the next day. Ai, Mako, Ian and Lindy would go to the house. Ian and Ai would go in first, saying they were contacts from Yamaki. Then, Lindy and Mako would stay behind and then distract Rika and Renamon. Ian and Ai would convince Lindy Rose to spill the beans on A.D.A's hideout.
It wasn't hard to find Rika's place. It was the same mansion that she lived in for her whole life. However, a few new security cameras had been added, and it looked like no one was home. The group knew better, Rika and Renamon were here and they just saw them in the garden. Lindy turned to Ian and Ai.
"Go, get 'em. And be careful of her."
Ian and Ai jumped out from the bushes and strolled across the road to the house. They didn't look too suspicious. A grown man and an eleven year old girl. Totally not a dumb plan Ian thought to himself sarcastically.
"This better work..." Ai muttered.
They ringed the door bell.
Rika's suspicious face poked through. She had changed as well in this reality. Her hair was longer and not up in her usual pony tail. Wearing a black dress shirt and pants, she looked like a government agent of some kind. Her face looked tight and fixed into a frown. She eyed the duo and said in a snappy voice,
"Who are you and what do you want?"
Ian did the talking.
"Hey, uh-were sent from Yamaki. He wanted us to talk to the girl."
"You?" Rika scoffed, looking between him and Ai. "A blonde guy with a kid? Yeah, right."
"No joke lady-we're under orders to get information on her and the whereabouts of the A.D.A."
"And the kid?"
"She's a cousin of Yamaki."
Rika opened the door fully, and surprisingly let the two in. The home looked barren, with only the basic necessities placed around. Renamon appeared beside the red head.
"Guests?"
"Yamaki's goons. They want to talk to Lindy Rose."
"Hmph." Renamon looked at Ian with her eyes. Ian knew this was a hard test to pass, Renamon was a good judge of character. He focused his eyes into hers and said in a very convincing voice.
"Nothing personal, just following orders."
Renamon made a noise and turned.
"Fine, but the child is staying with us. She shouldn't even be here." Renamon glared at Ai who glared back. The blond shrugged.
"Sure, keep her company-I bet you're great with kids." The smart ass remarked earned a laugh from Ai. Rika frowned.
"What's your name?"
"Ian, and the kid there is Aiko." he jerked his thumb over to Ai who sat on the couch, kicking her legs. It was agreed that using Ai's real name wasn't a smart idea. "We will be in and out, I'm sure she'll talk to me."
The basement was redesigned as a prison for Lindy Rose. Down the stairs, there had to be five digit code entered to open the door. Ian noticed that Rika punched in the numbers 57132 quickly. Inside was a little surveillance area with a few chairs and a monitor observing the cell Lindy was confined to twenty three hours a day. The other hour was so she could relieve herself or shower depending on Rika's mood. Most of the time it was usually one or the other.
Ian looked around with cautious eyes. He didn't trust this world's Rika or Renamon one bit. Not after what he learned what they had done to his Lindy when she stuck being interrogated. It took him some self control to not clobber both of them. Now, he was focused on busting out this Lindy-a key to helping solve the mystery of Mako's kidnapping, and the disappearance of Tai and Yuki. She must have had answers was Ian going to get her to answer them.
As he waited by the surveillance room, Rika and Renamon went inside to explain to Lindy the 'rules'. The blond hybrid himself was steeling himself for the talk. The woman in there may look and be Lindy but she was nothing like his toots. For she was completely human. Even if she tried to pull a fast one on him, he would have the upper hand. As well, she had zero compassion and called all digimon 'monsters'. Apparently, Rika kidnapped her from the mansion in Setyagua; all drunk and in bed with some guy she hardly knew. After two weeks, she became less mouthy and more withdrawn which pleased Rika. It gave Ian a horrible feeling seeing the Tamer and Renamon act like this. Rika was always hot tempered but time wore on she became more relaxed and loved to help anyone out. He remembered she picked him up from being almost dead in the digital world after going on that rampage as Beelzemon. In this world, everything was all skewed and wrong. Takato and Guilmon's death changed everyone for the worse.
Toots said she was going to come in soon Ian thought to himself. He just hoped she was right and they could get by red head and fox face-they look like they would have no problem tearing anything apart.
Rika came out of the cell annoyed, but gave Ian the pass. She looked at him wearily.
"You know what you're doing?"
Ian frowned.
"Why don't you mind your own business. I'll handle myself just fine."
The Tamer shrugged walking away to the locked door with Renamon in tow. "Your funeral...crazy Canadian bitch."
Even though Ian was knowledgeable on the fact that he was in an alternate reality and that was not his Lindy in there, it made him angry that Rika called her a bitch. Muttering a few choice words for her when she was out of ear shot, he grasped the knob and opened the door.
The first thing he noticed was that the cell was hardly a cell. It was just another room. A bed with some blankets was shoved in the corner all made and folded. The floor was swept and clean-as if someone had just tended to it. No windows were in the room but a couple of lamps were on and casted many shadows. Some of them were on a young woman who had her back turned, facing the wall. He could see her blonde hair was long and wavy but was dull and lost the shine it once had. The attire that this Lindy had on was a oversized shirt barely covering her legs. Ian prayed that she had shorts underneath of this was going to get awkward, very fast.
"So, you're Ian." she spoke still facing away from him. Her voice sounded hoarse and dry as if she spend a long time screaming. Ian remembered the feeling well on nights he would sing too loudly at Wamaki bar. Ian took another tentative step, unsure why the blonde was facing away from him.
"Yeah. In the flesh." he replied hoping he didn't sound too much like his counterpart. He needed her trust before she freaked out over his digimon forms.
The woman, Lindy, turned around after a moment; as if she was contemplating on engaging the conversation. Ian was prepared to see her face but he was still shocked at finally seeing his girlfriend's counterpart.
Of course everything was mostly the same. She still looked like she was in her twenties, had no make up on. Something told the hybrid that her chest was not exactly 'authentic' as she was much larger there. Thankfully, she was wearing some kind of short shorts. Her body was much thinner than Lindy's almost showing her bones. The one thing Ian could tell that was Lindy's sea green eyes were dull and lifeless.
Ian almost did not catch the shackle attached to her left ankle, a cuff that had a chain extended to the bed. She probably had only enough walking distance to reach where the hybrid stood.
Lindy's eyes glanced up and down Ian's body as if she was picking him apart-and undressing him. An involuntary blush swarmed the hybrids cheeks but the lights were too terrible to reveal that.
"You look very...attractive to be interrogating me," Lindy spoke huskily, striding forward and stopping inches from the hybrid. "Or will you be torturing me tonight instead?"
We're only a minute in and this is getting more awkward than Kenta's pick up lines thought Ian, flustered. While the woman was no where anything like Lindy, what she was saying and likeness of her appearance was leaving him confused.
Focus...
Lindy, the true one, simply thought that in his head and let him be. Ian suddenly felt ashamed. Who knows what this Lindy had been through, it simply wouldn't be right to think of her in that way. Despite of numerous times she was known for being evil, he just couldn't bring himself to hate her completely.
"Neither." Ian stated placing a hand in his jacket pocket. "Just talkin'. Ya okay with that, Sunshine?"
Lindy chuckled at the nickname and went to her bed. She sat down and crossed her legs very rigidly.
"Tell me, what do you want to know? My name is Lindy Rose. I'm a Canadian, brought here with my parents after the D-Reaper. Babysat and worked a little until auntie Erika recruited me for the A.D.A, became a poster child, blacked out for a day, found my life had turned upside down, and ran away from crazy blood thirsty Tamers. Not only that, but I get kidnapped from my house two weeks ago, where I was having amazing sex with my off and on again boyfriend. Now, I spent the past two weeks in this rat hole of a prison until you strolled along. That should cover my life-so if you're done with the questions and don't want to drop your pants, would you be so kind as to leave me the fuck alone? I know you're not with Yamaki or the A.D.A. "
Throughout the whole time she talked, the other Lindy had a pleasant smile until it changed near the end into a hostile expression. Ian never knew Lindy could be so...different. She certainly wasn't budging.
"Lindy, I ain't a Tamer. I'm...not like those guys." Ian sighed putting a hand through his hair. "I just want to know a couple things and maybe, I can get ya outta here. Huh? How does that sound?"
The expression changed on Lindy to a confused look with furrowed eyebrows. Ian kept a steady gaze but brought a wooden chair closer so he could sit down. Good, now he got her attention. If she could stop hitting on him, they would be golden. If that's what it took to get answers, then the others could deal with the blonde woman for a little bit-until they got what they wanted out of her.
"What could you possibly want with a bitch like me?" Lindy asked cynically. "You know what I stand for on digimon and freaks like that. I even apparently murdered one of them. Rika and Renamon gave me quite a few beatings to remind me."
Ian was starting to get annoyed.
"But you didn't murder Takato and Guilmon." Ian replied coolly. "Ya ain't like that. I think ya just want people to fear you when in reality-you're just a brat who didn't get what she wanted. Tough break-nothin' in this world works the way ya wanna, Sunshine. And on the whole hating digimon thing," Ian air quoted that part. "You are just scared of them. I know about Ethan Colons..."
Lindy's look changed to an angry one. Oh yeah, he was getting under her skin.
"And with Ai," finalized Ian. "you probably look at her and hate yourself cause of what happened, don't cha?"
Lindy scoffed, rolling her eyes. She folded her arms defensively and snipped. "Okay, let's get a few facts straight here, cutie-I'm not afraid or scared. I can handle myself perfectly fine with those monsters, and Ethan Colons is none of your business..."
"But, you still hate yourself over getting Ai hurt. I can see it in your face when I said her name." Ian folded his arms. She was trying to avoid that part of his rant. He knew why. There was the same guilty look that appeared over his face at the mention of Leomon was appearing over this woman's face as well. She was trying to keep it controlled, but Ian could see her hands were shaking. From alcohol withdrawal or anger-it was a toss up what was causing Lindy to shudder.
The woman laughed harshly, standing up and walking over to the corner of the room as far as the chain would let her. Ian was confused what the woman was trying to do until he saw the security camera. Rhythmically, the red light on the camera blinked.
"Hey, you guys hearing this shit?" Lindy asked waving an arm. "It's not like I wanted that girl to get hurt, okay? I never intended her to wake up as a freak of nature. IT'S NOT MY FAULT!" Ian could see tears starting to prickle at her eyes. Lindy was never good at stopping herself from crying once she started.
"Ya still blame yourself everyday." Ian strolled up to Lindy with fierce eyes. "And let me tell you somethin'. Ya can drink every fucking bottle until ya liver rots, but once you're sober-it's still there. That memory replaying over and over in your head and the guilt and shame that comes with it. You can't take it back. She's changed and you can't do a thing about it." Ian felt a little bad for treating her like this, but Lindy wasn't going to open up. All she was trying to do, with the drinking and sleeping around, was forget. He knew. He drank to forget Lindy when she 'died'. It didn't work at all. At the end he still blamed himself for Leomon's death...Jeri's depression...even Lindy and the curse.
At this point, Lindy was heaving on the floor, sobbing tears and looked like she was broken. She held herself tightly, before asking Ian in choked sobs.
"How...you...know? A-a-about the guilt? N-no one...understands...m-m-me."
Ian rolled his eyes and looked around. He saw a towel in the corner it looked clean enough so he threw it over to the blonde. Lindy buried it into her face, still crying.
"Cause, I did things I ain't proud of either and I never forgave myself for them. Look, I didn't come to start the waterworks, Sunshine." Ian casted his eyes at the camera, then back to Lindy. "I came to get some answers and get you to help us. To make things right with Ai."
Lindy took a deep breath and hugged the towel while sitting back on the bed. She struggled looking at Ian directly but she was a little more relaxed and less hostile. Good. He can finally get answers.
"What are the questions, Ian?" Lindy asked, her voice cracking. She refused to look at him.
"We want to know where the A.D.A hideout is. Can ya tell us that?"
Lindy bit her thumbnail, staring at the floor, giving it some thought. It was all down to this for some kind of real lead. If not, the group was back to square one.
"You see, it was planned to be at Hypnos. When I woke up from my black out-it was all destroyed. Gone. I was lying outside the building and I had to get the story from a friend of mine after it happened. Apparently, Erika disappeared too and I couldn't say I was shocked-a lot of people hated her. She's probably dead. Before all that, she was good friends with Sebia Kobiayashi and our group developed with his help at his casino."
"Sebia Kobiayashi?"
"You know, the owner of Japan's pachinko parlours and the casino they built. It's called Yatta Neiko Casino."
"So, you guys worked under a casino?" Ian asked with a deadpan face. "What? Crime bosses came by and had secret little meetings with your aunt?"
"That is exactly it, Ian." Lindy replied. "How do you think we got all the money and weapons and man power? Erika used the casino to help set up the A.D.A. They are the biggest terrorist group out there against digimon and Tamers."
Ian looked genuinely concerned. "The A.D.A is one of the biggest-"
"-terrorist groups? Oh, yes. Much bigger than you think. I wasn't supposed to find that out and when I did-I ran for it. I have warrants out for me, death threats from Tamers-I had to get out of here. I had to escape."
"Yeah, did a great job of escaping," Ian said, rolling his eyes. He ignored the glare from the blonde woman. "So, who's in charge now?"
"Yonoko Omoto and she has someone else helping her. Someone with power and a reputation." Lindy gazed upwards, feeling remorseful. "I'm not trying to kill people here-I thought I was doing the right thing at first with the A.D.A," Lindy blew her nose into the towel ignoring a disgusted grunt from Ian. "I never knew...what they were really doing."
Ian wanted to tell Lindy she was stupid for thinking that but he used his 'link' with Ai to find out that Lindenmon was battling Sakyuamon now. So much for talking it out.
She doing okay, Ai?
Lindenmon just smashed Sakyuamon through a wall for trying to touch me. You tell me.
Ah.
Ian cut off the connection and looked to the prisoner.
"Okay, next question, you know someone named Azazel?"
"No, doesn't ring a bell." Lindy shook her head.
"Okay, knew that was a long shot. Let's get into this casino then and check it out."
Lindy snorted and gave Ian an incredulous look. "You want me to take you to the Yatta Neiko Casino? And bypass all that security? I won't even be able to get you through the front door!"
Ian stood up.
"Or, you can stay here and have Rika and Renamon kick the crap out of you. Your choice."
A few moments passed where all the two heard was the humming of the basement heater and Lindy blowing her nose. A thud came up now and then but the two were so far below that the fight between Sakuyamon and Lindenmon would go unnoticed. She looked up slowly, nodding her head as if she was reassuring herself what she chosen was the better choice.
"You play a hard bargain, Ian." Lindy observed, "But I can't stand another minute in this horrible outfit. The minute I get out, we are going to get me some new clothes."
"Fine, deal." Ian agreed. Whatever, Lindy needed some new clothes. He sighed. Now here comes the hardest part; actually getting her out. He opened up a mental link to Lindenmon.
Toots, we're ready. Any luck convincing Rika and Renamon into letting your better half go?
No, and she's not my better half. Lindenmon seethed making Ian feel the bubbling anger within her. It made sense. Those two did tie her up to a chair and beat her up-she wanted to get even. Plus, she wasn't too happy about her counterpart being part of the A.D.A.
Ian laughed causing the imprisoned Lindy to look at him strangely.
Okay then bust us outta here. Get Ai and Mako to unlock the basement. The code is 57132 and you keep the ladies busy. I'll let this one in on our plan.
She's going to go ape.
We don't got a choice toots, see you in ten.
Ian cut off his mental link with the mega hybrid and only then realized that Lindy was poking him constantly in the ribs. Her attitude seemed to improved as she looked at him. At least she stopped crying.
"So, I need to ask, how are you going to convince Rika to let me go? Hello? You tripping on drugs? Hello?"
Ian snapped his head and grabbed Lindy and moved her a little to the left, by the bed.
"Okay," Ian grinned impishly. "Now, we're gunna bust outta here."
"Wait, I thought Rika was going to open the door?" Lindy gave a even more confused look. "And who are you? You're not with Yamaki, you're not with A.D.A, and now you're not with the Tamers? Not that a good looking guy like you can't come to rescue me, but what is it that you are after? Why do you really need me?"
The hybrid let out a puff of air and put his hands on his hips. It would make things easier to let the cat out of the bag now.
"If I told you who I really am, will you not scream or freak out?" Ian asked keeping a gaze to the door.
"Sure, no problem. Trust me, I've seen it all." bragged Lindy but she was not expecting Ian to glow a bright light and become a familiar tall demon biker digimon with red eyes. Beelzemon finished changing to see a fainted Lindy on the floor. The mega thought that somehow, Lindy probably was not expecting him to change into a Demon Lord.
"Yeah, I thought so." he muttered. He broke the chain on her ankle easily and heard two familiar voices on the other side of the locked door.
"Munchkins, I got Lindy here. Open up." Beelzemon called out throwing Lindy over his shoulder. At least she was light.
The door opened revealing the twins who were curious as to what the other Lindy actually looked like. The two children gave disappointed sighs when they scanned her over.
"She looks the same." Ai whined.
"I kinda expected an eye patch or maybe a missing hand." Mako observed, disappointed as well.
"Trust me, she ain't." Beelzemon replied, walking to the stairs. "Lindenmon doin' okay?"
"Yeah, but I think Sakyuamon is pretty mad." Mako grinned. "We covered her in ketchup and flour."
Beelzemon gave a low chuckle and exit the house through the back. Outside, it was apparent that a battle was going on at the front of the house. By the sounds of it, Lindenmon had the upper hand. They hooked around the front, remaining concealed within the bushes and shrubs.
There, they saw Sayukamon covered in flour and ketchup sending out her spirit foxes to Lindenmon. The white mega simply knocked them away with her Hands of Fate. Even though the shaman mega Digimon's face was mostly concealed, it was pronounced that she was very pissed off.
"Mako, go help her escape." Ai nudged her brother. Pulling out a digimon card, Mako swiped it into his purple D-Arc.
"Digi-Modify! Snimon's invisibility activate!"
Lindenmon vanished into thin air. Sakyuamon shouted in surprise and used her Amethyst Malada attack to try to find her but, with no success.
"Let's go," whispered the white mega who startled the group in front of her. With a rippling effect, she appeared again. "She's going to be angry when she noticed we're all gone."
Beelzemon shifted Lindy and activated his other mode with black wings. Flapping them, he and Lindenmon took the skies with Ai and Mako. They were glad that at least one part of their mission worked.
The group was in their motel room eating celebratory Chinese takeout when the newly rescued Lindy came to. Only thing was that Beelzemon had tied her up to a chair and gagged her. Lindy tried screaming immediately but with no success as she realized the cloth was in-between her teeth. Lindenmon gently came forward putting a hand up.
"Hi, I'm so sorry that we tied you up but Impmon had a feeling you would freak out. So, we are going to explain everything and then let you off the chair if you promise not to scream. Okay?" Lindenmon stared into her human double's eyes. They were glaring daggers at the mega but she complied, resisting less and settling down.
"Okay, to put things simply, we're from another reality and we need your help to save Mako, Tai and Yuki from this reality. Impmon here you met as Ian and Beelzemon." Lindenmon pointed to the purple rookie who was stuffing his face with food. "He doesn't appear to be nice, but he's a softie. He's a hybrid just like Ai from your world. I think you can see Ai and Mako there." Ai and Mako waved a little before continuing their meal. "And I'm Lindenmon. I know that there are a lot of questions you want answered and don't worry. We will get to them. You notice that Ai from our world does not change at night-into a digimon. She isn't cursed like the Ai here. We want to help Ai be able to break free from the curse or at least be able to control like we can.
A sound emitted from the gagged Lindy that sounded like 'we?'. Lindenmon nodded. A bright glow emerged from the white mega as she changed into a human woman that almost look liked the Lindy in the chair. Lindy's eyes bulged at the sight and lost the colour in her skin from the shock. Catching herself, she struggled not to lose her composure. The newly changed hybrid spoke,
"In my reality, I saved Ai that night and I was cursed with being a hybrid. That form you saw was my mega form. Now, we can talk more-just, I want to ungag you. You think you can refrain from freaking out?"
The slow nod from Lindy made the hybrid assured that she was going to cooperate. Quickly, Lindy untied her counter part's gag from her mouth and let the woman breathe. After a second of the woman trying to form questions, two finally popped out. The first one was expected, but the second question made Ai and Mako choke on their food from laughing.
"I want you to tell me the whole story and for the love of God, what happened to our hair!?"
Author's Note: Oh boy, that's a lot of information to take in, I know! We got Makoto taking Azazel's deal-we got Ai jealous of herself over Mako, we got some mysterious voice in the D-Arcs and finally we got the alternate reality Lindy. Ian nicknamed her Sunshine cause she looked like shit when he first saw her. It's more of a jab at her then a complement. Finally, Sakyuamon covered in ketchup and flour is hilarious I don't care what anyone says. I request a picture of it!
So, next chapter we will get to see how well this new Lindy get's along with the group. As well, the twins are inching closer to Impmon's past. See you next week!