General Sampson and his assistant Yoshi were escorted by one of Echo's security down a length of spiral staircases into a damp and stony environment, they could tell that they were deep underground, well of course they would be if the top floor of Echo Headquarters is underground in the first place. The only light was provided by flaming torches at intervals along the walls, despite the flames the place was cold and eerie.
As they reached the bottom they were greeted by two more security guards that flanked the a rusty iron gate, the security guard who had escorted them pulled out an Identification Card
"I'm to escort these two too see prisoner 453" the security guard sneered
"On who's authority" the bulkier of the two guards asked
"By my authority!" General Sampson interrupted "Now open this gate"
The guard looked General Sampson and his eyes narrowed when he recognised the DATs badge pinned to his trench coat, a small grin formed on his face as he pulled out keys
"Right this way General" the guard slithered as he unlocked the iron gate
The gates flew open and the General and Yoshi were escorted inside, around them were four jail cells occupied with four teenagers, each had a strange creature in the cell with them and all were bruised and scarred and covered in dirt and sweat.
In the cell directly to Sampson's right was a boy no older then fifteen, his hair was chocolate brown and flapped in front of his tired and dead eyes, his face was covered in cuts that were both infected and fresh as well as bright purple bruises on his pale face, on his left hand there was the remains of an arm guard that had been smashed and cracked, his clothes were torn and scabby. On the floor unconscious (or maybe sleeping) beside him was a small armless purple creature with an elongated head and yellow markings across its body.
Beside the first cell the second was also occupied by a teenage boy this one had short black hair that was dull with a mixture of gel and sweat, his face was small and pale and his features were non-expressive his right eye was purple with bruising. By his side nursing a wound on her wing was a large bird with two stray black feathers on top of her bulbous head. Her eyes were large amber ovals filled with sorrow and pain, he wings were peaked at the ends with three long talons. Her feathers were jet black and mangled with dust and dirt.
Another cell held another boy and creature. This boy had long blonde hair that was tinted with blood and dirt, his face was long and tired and paler then the others, his face was etched with troubles and lack of sunlight. His ocean blue eyes that looked as if they should hold so much warmth were cold and lacked all hope. His partner creature was toad-like with four arms that were peaked with a single white nail on each, on his scaly skin was a large red fin that was made of bone, on his soft white underbelly was a long large scar that was septic and yellow.
In the final cell there was a boy on his own, he was curled into the corner with his head in his knees rocking back and forth against the wall as his black hair fell downwards swishing back and forth with him as he moved, in the silence of the cell you could hear the boy muttering but what he was saying was indistinguishable. When Sampson entered the cell chamber he looked up and his manic eyes shot up at Sampson. Sampson met the boys eyes
"This is horrible" Yoshi gasped as she looked around at the cell "These kids are only between fifteen and seventeen at most"
Sampson's eyes were still staring at the boys, Kudamon stirred on his shoulder and nuzzled down into the breast of his jacket trembling in fear. Sampson knelt in front of the boys prison without losing contact with him
"What are you here for my boy?" Sampson asked soothingly, the boy just continued to stare
"Free the Spirits of Ten and let digital be restored again" the boy puffed
"What does that mean?" Sampson asked him
"Free the Spirits of Ten and let digital be restored again" he repeated moving from his position and crawling to the bars
"That's all he ever says" the blonde boy spoke, his accent thick and American, also coming closer to his own bars, Sampson shifted his attention to the boy talking to him
"I'm Michael" he said "Michael Washington, and this is Betamon"
The toad-like creature gave a weak smile as his partner continued introductions
"In the cell next to me is Jack and Sparrowmon and in that other cell is Ryo and Hopmon, as for him" he gestured towards the mumbling boy "We don't know his name"
"I'm General Richard Sampson and my assistant Yoshino Fujieda" General Sampson announced "And these are our partners Kudamon and Lalamon, we work at DATs"
"What's DATs?" Michael asked
"Its an organisation that was set up to research and protect Digimon and Tamers" Sampson explained
"Like Echo" Jack sighed
"I doubt DATs locks up kids" Michael spat
"You don't know what Echo was like before Lazarus" Jack sighed
"That Echo died with Naigen, Jack move on" Ryo replied keeping his calm
"He's not dead" Jack said quietly "right?"
"So then are you here to release us?" Michael asked his eyes filling slightly with hope
"Of course" he turned to the guards at the gates "Open these cells immediately by order of the state"
"No can do there General" the guards sniggered "In fact on Lazarus's orders you are to join these tamers"
The guard laughed manically as he shut the gate to the cells and began to lock them in again
'BANG'
A cloud of dust and rubble erupted at the top of the spiralling staircase, the two guards looked at each other and cocked their guns ready for whatever came down the stairs. Back in the cell the mysterious boy was shouting his phrase louder then before with a hint of excitement in his voice.
Down the staircase a boy with long straight hair and a cold face walked down, a robotic-humanoid-creature accompanied him. Behind him was another boy his skin tanned and his hair longer and bushier then the first, he was astride a wolf-like creature with long fangs and a white furry mane.
"On No!" one of the guards stammered as he saw the boys, he raised his gun along with his colleague
"Sonic Split" the wolf-creature screamed and a shockwave erupted from his gaping jaw, the weapons the guards were holding shattered from the shockwave, one of the guards fell backwards in the shock and landed on a rusted spike that stuck out of the gate, the spike shot through his chest like a needle through thread, his chest leaked blood like an oil spill. The other guard stood there his eyes wide with fear and shock with flickers of hate as he pulled out a knife from his belt
"Mega Virus Shot" the cyborg called raising his arm that was encased with a large cannon and released a shining blast of energy at the card incinerating him. His dark corpse fell to the floor smoke still rising from the extreme heat of the blast. The two tamers and there Digimon descended the rest of the stairs.
"George! Zac!" Jack cried as he noticed his two friends "How did you-"
"No time to explain now, Jack" George interrupted as Cyborgmon broke down the gate and the tamers stepped into the prison cell "Let's just get you guys out of here"
Cyborgmon and the wolf-Digimon, Howlmon, began ripping the bars off the walls while George, Zac, Sampson and Yoshi helped support the captives inside
"Do you know where there holding your Digivices?" Zac asked the mysterious boy
The boy replied with his usual phrase
"What?!?" Zac was confused
George swivelled on his heel to face the boy, he grasped hold of his arms
"Koichi!" he said shaking the boy to which the boy was unresponsive, he clicked his fingers in the boys face to get his attention "Koichi! Its me, it's George"
"G-George" the boy stammered, his dead eyes coming slightly to life as he recognised the other tamer "W-What are you doing here, have they captured you as well?"
"No" George replied, the boys eyes slowly became more life like "We're here to get you out can you spirit evolve?"
"No" Koichi replied his self becoming normal once again "I don't have my D-Tector?"
"Jack" George said turning "Do you know where they've been put"
"The Vaults" Jack said hurt as me moved properly for the first time in a while
George lifted up his arm and spoke into his D-Touch
"Lou, this is George get to the vaults and smash those things open see if you can find the Digivices"
"On it boss" Lou's voice responded through the Digivices
"General Sampson, Agent Fujeda" George said acknowledging the two agents of DATs there before them "Can your Kudamon and Lalamon Digivolve and help us fight?"
"Yes of course" Sampson replied before looking down at Kudamon, and then too Yoshi and Layamon "Ready?"
There heads nodded in agreement and Sampson and Yoshi pulled out there Digivice iC as they glowed in there hands
"Kudamon Warp Digivolve to…
…Sleipmon"
Kudamon's small, sleek and ferret-like appearance was replaced by a tall humanoid-horse Digimon, plated with red armour with a large crossbow on his right arm with a majestic shield on his right, his purple mane flowed elegantly out of his courageous helmet as he stood beside his partner
"Lalamon Warp Digivolve to….
…Rosemon"
Where the had once been Lalamon there now stood a cross between human and flower, her body was sleek and beautiful, her face heart shaped and her lips large and red. Her eyes were covered by a large helmet resembling a rose flower and in her hand was held a lethal whip edged with thorns. She stood next to Yoshi washing the fear the human had had
"Now things have changed so watch your backs" George explained "No longer can you survive without your partner if one is killed its game over for the other, slowly and painfully I must add-"
Zac winced slightly as he remembered Yuri slowly dying in his arms
"-and there's no coming back this time once your done your done" George sighed
The Tamers nodded there heads a slight fear and sorrow rested in their hearts
There was another loud crash from upstairs as George's D-Touch signalled an incoming call
"We got the Digivices" Lou said through the device "But Lazarus has turned up and he's brought back up"
George and the rest of the group hurried up the stairs as fast as they could (the prisoners only being slightly slower) luckily the doors to the dungeons were situated only meters away from the Vaults, down the corridors they could see the other Tamers firing attacks down a corridor to which other attacks and bullets were being retaliated. Lou was standing behind Tortomon as his partner shielded bullets, clutched in his hands were the Digivices, Michael's Standard Digivice, Ryo's D-Power, Koichi's D-Tector and Jack's D-Touch. The group joined Lou behind Tortomon's barricade.
"Ok guys let's join the fight" Michael said as his and the others Digivices glowed
"Betamon Digivolve to…
… Seadramon"
Betamon was replaced with a slimy serpent with cold eyes and a yellow bone helmet, it slithered around Michael as he took position on his head and joined the battle
"Hopmon Warp Digivolve to…
… Cyberdramon"
Hopmon was replaced with a gruesome dragon like creature with large scythes on his forearms and a helmet shadowing his facial features, his teeth were sharp and in a grimace
'BIOMERGE ACTIVATE'
'JUSTIMON'
Cyberdramon and Ryo both collided in a beam of light as they formed a new entity, the resulting creature was a noble warrior Digimon with a large cybernetic arm and a red scarf trailing behind him, he kept the helmet previously held by Cyberdramon but held a more softness that could relate to Ryo, when he spoke both the voices of Ryo and of Cyberdramon echoed each other
"Sparrowmon Digivolve to…
…Owlmon"
A noble and wise looking owl now stood where Sparrowmon once had, he retained those large oval eyes that had belonged to Sparrowmon as his large brown wings flapped in warning to his enemies
"Execute!" Koichi cried "Spirit Evolution!"
He burst into bright light as his spirit formed his armoured body, the spear and shield he carries nobly flew into his hand
"Lowemon!"
Where the human Koichi had stood now stood the Digimon Lowemon, his armour black as night with gold mane flowing behind him, his shoulder pads were in the shape of two lions heads both with large ruby orbs in there mouths
"Ok guys lets bring this place to the ground" George said issuing the orders
"Gargo Barrage" MegaGargomon cried releasing two large missiles…
"Lightning Spear" Cherubimon called as he summoned a thousand bolts of red lightning firing them forwards…
"Pummel Peck" Kiwimon (Catherine's Floramon) shouted as his mouth opened releasing dozens of explosive missiles…
"Twin Sickle" Snimon swung his large scythes side to side as he released two thin sharp beams of energy…
"Aerial Shocker" Unimon released a ball of shining energy from his mouth…
"Strong Carapace" Tortomon's shell spikes glowed as he released them…
"Ice Blast" Seadramon released a cold breath of ice from his jaw…
"Justice Burst" Justimon's arm changed to a cybernetic device releasing blue energy forwards…
"Shadow Meteor" Lowemon's lion head chest plate gathered dark energy and fired it forwards…
"Hypnos Strike" Owlmon's Amber eyes shone and let out pulses of energy…
"Forbidden Temptation" Rosemon;s energy surged forward in a wind of rose petals…
"Inferno Frost" Sleipmon fires a burning fire of ice…
"Mega Virus Shot" Cyborgmon once again released a powerful eruption or energy…
"Sonic Split" Howlmon's cry erupted into a surge of sonic waves…
The attacks collided with the forces that Lazarus had mustered causing an enormous explosion
'Free the Spirits of Ten and let Digital be restored again!' rand in Lowemon's as he realised what it meant
"Free the Spirits of Ten and let Digital be restored again!" he cried "I understand it now!"
"Slide Evolution…
…JagerLowemon"
The beast Spirit of Darkness leapt from the group and surged down the hall way
"Koichi what are you doing" George cried but he could not be heard "Cyborgmon we have to go after him"
"Right" Cyborgmon agreed "Mode Change!"
Cyborgmon transformed into a one man miniature jet, George took his position inside, he turned to Willis
"Start getting everyone outside" he ordered "If I'm not out in twenty minutes go on without me and contact Azza, tell him we failed and hope to god he's got a plan B"
The cockpit hatch shut down over George as he rocketed forward down the hall in pursuit of JagerLowemon
Both Digimon skidded to a halt as they reached a doorway, on it a sign saying keep out, JagerLowemon burst through, Cyborgmon morphed back to normal form and followed him in
The room was a small laboratory with ten capsules with a coloured liquid in each, black, clear, yellow, blue, brown, orange, green, purple, pale green and red. In each of them (except the black liquid) held two statues depicting figures of warriors and creatures
"Free the Spirits of Ten and let Digital be restored again" George repeated to himself, then it snapped in his mind, the spirits of the ten legendary warriors, but what were they doing at Echo base last time they were used they had manifested back into normal Digimon, why were they now back to statues?
JagerLowemon shifted back to Lowemon as he pulled out his staff, he raised it high as dark energy surrounded him giving him strength, he forced the staff downwards and into the computer interface causing it to violently set alight and release the statues
The eighteen statues disappeared into the air as alarms began to sound reporting a red alert full system malfunction
"Where did they go?" George shouted above the sirens
"To there rightful masters" Lowemon replied "Now come on we better get out of here before this place goes up"
Lowemon morphed back into JagerLowemon while Cyborgmon converted himself into his vehicle mode, the two Digimon raced down the corridors as explosions began going off behind them. They caught up with the others as they were evacuating Echo Agents still faithful. The base was already crumbling around them
Lazarus emerged from the shadows clapping his hand mockingly
"Well well Tamers I never thought you had it in you" Lazarus sneered "And George, destroying Echo Base now, Dr. Naigen must be spinning in his grave"
George's lip curled
"I've had quite enough of this" Yoshi hissed tears down her eyes "Rosemon arrest him"
Rosemon advanced on Lazarus bringing her Rose Whip up high, before she could descend it a black shadow shot right through her chest and disappeared. Her eyes went wide and white as her data began to evaporate
"NO!" Yoshi screamed in both disbelief and pain, she grabbed her chest feeling her own heart giving out, she dropped to her knees as Lazarus cackled uncontrollably the dark shadow taking hold of him and making him disappear his dark cackle echoed
General Sampson was at Yoshi's side in a flash his eyes went red with tears already burrowing down his cheeks, he grasped her hand and felt it get cold
"G-General" she cried "I-it hurts…please just shoot me"
The General looked on in horror at this request
"P-please sir" Yoshi cried "Just make the pain stop…as one final honour"
"I-I" Sampson cried
"Please sir" Yoshi sobbed "Just one bullet, s-straight to the head"
General Sampson pulled his pistol from his breast pocket and held it to her temple
"Yoshi Fujeda…I-I will a-avenge you" Sampson cried as the rubble fell around him
Yoshi let out a small smile as she turned her eyes to Rosemon who lay cold and still
"I wouldn't have been able to go on without her anyway sir" she smiled
The General let out a smile as the tears fell off his face onto hers, he moved his finger and she was gone. Yoshi Fujeda had passed from this world, Sampson picked up her body as he carried her out of the collapsing building into the cold winter night.
As the base burnt snowflakes began to fall
"Look Yoshi, snow" Sampson smiled "Oh how you loved it"
The snow fell softly as he lay her body onto the ground, the other tamers bending there heads in silence as they mourned there loss of both Yoshi and Lalamon