Digimon

GODFALL

By. Sonfaro

Chapter 24

We're alive: which means we won. I guess.

I feel the wind in my hair as I ride on the back of Imperialdramon. Tsunomon – my little puff ball of orange fur and a giant horn sticking through the middle – is still thoroughly asleep in my arms. Across from me, sitting on Tai's lap, Koromon is a little more animated; though it appears more likely that he's sleep fighting again. Tai lets him, too tired to ask his buddy to stop punching him in the chest with his ear/arms, a big grin on his face. It takes me a minute to realize that I have one too.

It's the first real talk we've had about this… thing between us in a long time. And it's the first real movement forward. The first step to recovery is acknowledging the problem right? We've got a lot of steps to go from here, not just him (though I'm right, it is mostly his problem). I'm just as guilty of biting my lounge as he is. I'm just as guilty as pushing our problems under the rug because it's simpler than dealing. It's been my MO for too long now. It's time for a change.

And if nothing else today has taught me an important lesson about us: we're strongest when we're together. No matter our adversity, if it's him and me, we can withstand it. We may bend, we won't break. And that fact causes my grin to evolve into a full smile.

Davis Motomiya gives me a sideways glance. "What are you so chipper about? You look like absolute sh-."

"Davis."

Davis shoots his DNA partner and moral compass Ken Ichijouji a dirty look before rolling his eyes. "Crap. You look like crap."

"Thanks Davis." I say sarcastically. But my smile doesn't leave my face.

"Are you okay?" Ken asks, a little more serious than his friend.

I turn and look towards Tai, and we share the same stupid expression. "Yeah. We're gonna be fine."

"Whatever you say," Davis shrugs. Ken keeps an eye on us for a moment longer, before letting it go as well. Which is fine with me. The wind is in my hair, the sun is shining down, and I'm still alive. I couldn't ask for more.

It takes us only moments to arrive at the MAGAMI campsite. By then my smile has dissipated. The whole place looks like it's been hit by a terrible earthquake. Fissures in the earth viciously jut out at awkward angles, tents near and far are torn through. Some are even burning. It doesn't bode well for our scientists.

"Did they make it?" I ask no one in particular.

As if on cue, from beneath one of the torn tents appears a human woman in a robe, gazing up at us. More heads begin to appear as Imperialdramon begins his descent, and I breathe a little easier.

"We are now arriving at our destination." Imperialdramon booms. "Would all humans please remain in their seats until the captain has turned off the seat belt sign above you."

"We had seatbelts?" Davis asks in perfect seriousness. Ken laughs in spite of himself.

"Alright Imperialdramon…"

"Had to be done." The twin voices of ExVeemon and Stingmon bounce in my ear with jovial air.

Which is more than I can say for the refugee researchers. They look absolutely terrified at the sight of our friend's giant dragon descending from the clouds.

"It's alright," Davis calls to them as we finally make landfall. "We're the good guys."

"Is anyone sick or wounded?" Asks Ken.

The woman named Tally is about to respond, when the miserable face of Akihiro Kurata appears in the way. "It's about time you fools got here. Do you know how long we've been waiting?"

Ken blinks. "No, but I get the feeling you're going to tell us."

"A full hour we've been sitting around waiting for you. We're starving and in shock and no care was given to us. Don't you know how dangerous the digital world is? We could have been a Digimon snack!"

"I highly doubt any of the Digimon out here would try to eat you." Ken mused. "Steal your wallet maybe…"

Kurata apparently didn't find that very funny. The old man sneers at Ken, contempt hardly masked across his thin hawkish face. "Do you think this is a joke, boy?"

Ken frowns. "Excuse me?"

"You picking a fight old man?" Davis snarls, his hot blood already starting to boil.

"Oh, you'd love that wouldn't you? You children love throwing your weight around with these freaks backing you up huh?"

"Hey, you watch your tone!" The dragon's voice echoed across the desert.

"Down Imperialdramon." Ken mutters.

The woman named Riley steps forward. "He most certainly is not. Kurata what is the matter with you?"

"We were forced to trek in the desert nearly a kilometer to reach this campsite – in the middle of a monsters attempt to take over the world mind you – with little consideration from our would be saviors, who bickered and fought the whole way here only to abandon us in the last minute. Forgive me if I'm not impressed."

Davis mouth is wide open, and I know simply from the crooked look in his eye that Davis was going to say some pretty awful things to this man right then and there. But Ken catches him by the shoulder to shut him up, and quickly bows. "We apologize for your terrible experience. We shall endeavor to do better. Now, if someone could lead us to your supplies so that we may gather everything now."

"Certainly," Riley said, and turns to lead Davis into the tent to grab their things.

"Unacceptable," Kurata continues his ramblings. "When we return to the Real World I will be sure to file a complaint with the United Nations –"

"I'm not so sure you should be so eager to get back to the real world, what with the Jailtime you all are looking at."

Tai's interjection suddenly has Kurata doing a one-eighty personality wise. Suddenly he's a timid old man, withering in the sun. "J-jail time? What do you mean j-jail time?"

I press my fingers to my chin and ponder the circumstances, staring out at each and every researcher with equal annoyance. "Mm… That's right: illegal experimentation on living data, the transfer of illegal firearms across dimensions, unleashing a virus that nearly destroyed the entire digiworld?"

"Oh. And you don't have a permit." Tai points directly to Kurata, who appropriately freaks out.

"I-I have special clearance…"

Tai looms in close, his eyes narrow and dangerous. "Then you'd better hope they clear all this up with me and fast. Because if not, when I'm done with you, you're going to wish Datamon were still treating you like soup."

"Gg…"

Satisfied that he has sufficiently soiled this man's pants, Tai leans back up, looking up to the sky in thought. "Add it all up and I'm thinking that's… what, at least twenty years each?"

I nod sagely. "Eighteen with good behavior."

"B-but we didn't do anything!" He whimpers.

"You didn't. MAGAMI did. And if you think the governments of the world are going to turn a blind eye to this you've got another thing coming. Believe me. There will be an investigation, and you will pay for the damage done here if I have to see to it personally."

Kurata growls. "But… but you're just a kid."

Tai eyes the old man darkly. "I haven't been a kid since I was eleven years old."

He lets that one hang, and our little group of survivors keeps quiet from then on. Smart on their parts I guess. "Sit down," I tell them. "We'll deal with you guys when we realize."

At that moment I feel a tug on my pant leg. I turn to find the younger tamer – Yuu, if I remember right – looking up at me. I frown. "Nn?"

"Um… Bro? Am… Am I going to jail?"

"Yuu!" His sister tries to shush him.

I laugh. "How old are you Yuu?"

"T-ten…"

I sigh. So young… "This was your first mission?"

He nods.

"Do you want more?"

He nods faster. I turn to Tai, who's been watching. He kneels with Koromon and smiles at the kid. "Well Yuu… after you get all patched up, I want you to head for Primary Village and let them know your partner will be returning shortly. When he does, you treat him to a big bowl of ice cream and tell him everything that happened while he was away. And then, once you two have bonded again, call Izzy Izumi and ask for Tai Kamiya. That's me."

"W-what are you going to do?"

"I'm going to see to it that all your missions from here on will be the best missions ever. And you'll never have to go to jail. How's that?"

He nods like no tomorrow.

"Good."

Tai keeps looking away from us, towards the billowing smoke cloud that points to the final resting place of Datamon.

"You okay?"

He turns and smiles, but there are tears in his eyes. "Yeah."

I frown and join him, looking out across the desert as the black pillars of smoke rise from the sands up to the digital heavens.

"I think I'm going to miss her." He says finally.

"Rei?" I ask, as my frown deepens.

He nods somberly. "…Yeah."

My brows furrow. The image of the skinny redhead that looks too much like my girlfriend floating into my mind. The image of the poor creature who's entire existence was a lie. A poor soul who found meaning in my best friend, and died for that meaning. I didn't like the girl we called Rei, for many reasons. But that doesn't mean I don't understand what Tai is feeling right this second.

"…Me too." I tell Tai quietly. "Me too…"

Ken and Davis finish loading the last of the researcher's things onto Imperialdramon; only essentials were allowed to be brought aboard – passports, ID cards, family heirlooms for the one old guy who still kept his mother's jewelry around for whatever reason. We don't pry. Pretty soon, the only things not on Imperialdramon are us.

"Ready to go home?" I ask him.

Tai nods. "More than anything."

We climb aboard and join our partners. Space is a lot more crampt than it was when we flew down of course, and there is some skirmishing for spacing behind us, bue fo the most part those who have survived the days events remain quiet, and for that I am greatful. We each take a collective breath as Imperialdramon rises into the air and everyone hangs on as he shoots off like a bullet across the sands.

It takes us only moments to arrive safely in Neo-Delhi. The city definitely looks hard hit by battle, as smoke is rising from several of the buildings, and the way humans and Digimon alike seem to be moving like ghosts, haunting the grounds that once held their peace. Imperialdramon lands neatly and everyone disembarks in single file, greeted by Neo-Dehli's composite human/digimon security force. Kurata especially doesn't seem to like this. It brings a smile to my face.

A few of the survivors manage to thank us for our heroism. Most don't. They're all quickly and quietly gathered up by security and shuttled off to a medical tent to treat their injuries. If I never see them again it'll be good riddance. But I have a sick feeling I'm definitely going to end up seeing them again.

Nene and Yuu hang back though. Good kids the both of them. They bow to Tai and myself, and thank Davis and Ken for flying them home. Nene looks as if she's done with the Digiworld for the time being, which is sad but understandable. But I've seen the look in Yuu's eyes before. I'm definitely going to be seeing more of him too.

They're both gone before long though. Which is fine. Tai and I slide off Imperialdramon, our partners still in our arms, and lands on the ground with a thump. Ken and Davis follow suit, and once everyone and everything is off his back, Imperialdramon shakes his armored shell and begins to glow. In second the de-digivolution egg surrounds him and splits, and both Ken and Davis reach up and collect their partners Wormmon and Veemon from the air. And with that, I can finally rest easy.

A cry wakes me from my daydream. I look up to see Mina rushing through the gate towards us, a look of relif flushed across her pretty brown face. She flings her long arms around Tai and gives him a warm hug. He reciprocates, lightly.

"W-watch the arm Mina!"

She blushes and lets go, and Tai again holds to his arm, which has stabilized to the point that it isn't phase-shifting all over the place. "I was worried for you Tai-san." She says with an attempt at Japanese honorifics. It's adorable, and Tai cracks a small smile for her.

"You may want to have Joe look at that." Says Ken.

"Already covered." I tell him. "Izzy's having us meet him at the realization point. We'll be in and out before anyone notices."

"That's good."

"How were things over here?" I ask.

Mina sighs, surveying the remnants of the attack. "Damage was heavy on the outskirts, but thanks to Davis and the others things weren't disastrous. It will take us little time to rebuild."

"Good."

"And the others?"

I frown. "Others?"

Mina's face darkens, a look of apprehension creeping up her beautiful face. "This isn't the full Tamer unit we sent. There were six with them – one for each researcher. Now there are only two."

"…"

"They're gone. Aren't they?"

Ken nods, slowly. "Sorry. If they didn't ride with Imperialdramon…"

She nods. Her dark eyes gaze towards the ground for a moment before facing us with a fury. "Tell me you got the monster that did this."

Tai frowns. "…Yeah." He says softly. "We got him."

If Mina notices his trepidation, she doesn't care. "Good."

"What'll you do now?" I ask carefully.

She ponders sadly to herself and steps away from us. "Now? Now I make a very sad visit to the parents of those poor children, explaining why their sons and daughters won't be coming home. This will not be easy for me. I feel as though my own children were lost."

"What'll happen?"

She shrugs and smiles at me, her face hardly hiding the tears in her eyes. "I do not know. It has been many months since a human lost their life in the Digiworld. To lose this many in one moment… I can only pray for forgiveness and hope my people will accept our grief. Either way it will not matter. When this is over I will resign my post as Digidestined."

I sputter. "What?"

"Aww, Mina, you don't have to do that." Davis crosses his arms.

"It was my job to protect them. I became complacent and they were lost to me. That is a terrible burden."

"Don't do anything too hasty Mina," I tell her. "They didn't lose their lives in vain. They died protecting others. They died Tamers. Tell their parents that."

She blinks, and then smiles. "I will."

It's the first time I think anyone's thought of Tamers like that. The Digidestined didn't have a choice in the matter. But them? They chose to be here. They chose to protect the Digiworld from danger. There's great honor in that.

"Man, It's cool fighting a weird tentacle thing or whatever, but I hate that I missed out on the real stuff this time. You don't think anything left from the ruins to crack down on huh?" Asks Davis.

"You're welcome to look for yourself." Tai snips.

Ken raises an eyebrow. "Tai?"

Tai blinks, realizing he may have come off too harshly. "I had a chunk of my arm cut out today." He finally mumbles.

"Right." Says Ken, and all is then forgiven. I get the feeling we'll be hearing that excuse for a few more weeks.

"Still, the mission was a success right?" Davis scratches his ear. "We found out that some nutcase Digimon from your past rebooted himself and tried to kill everyone, you squashed his brains in, rescued the survivors, and destroyed his hub once and for all!"

"It's not that simple Davis." Tai says.

"It never is with Datamon." I join him.

Davis pouts, arms crossed against his chest. "I don't see what the big deal is." He huffs. "Didn't you save everyone you could?"

"Almost everyone."

Mina looks to Tai for more, but he doesn't give her any answer. I hold my peace as well: there's nothing one can say.

We part on good terms; Mina promises to at least table her resignation until she talks to the families. She does good work out here, and we'd hate to lose her. We leave Ken and Davis to lead an assembled Tamer mop up operation of the few Gizmon left brainlessly wandering about.

Izzy's partner Tentomon volunteers to keep an eye on our partners until they're back to the rookie stage. Our partners never like to be separated from us, but it's especially painful for them when they're at the In-Training stage. They'll be back to rookies with a good meal and a lot of rest, and there's always next week.

And the week after that and the week after that. Both worlds are still around. We're alive. What's a few days more.

We're halfway to our portal home when Tai stops dead in his tracks. "Wait."

"Tai?"

I frown and turn to see what he's staring at. It's Shamanmon-Rev, still preaching his strange gospel. But there are Digimon who will hear it now. Before him bow several rookies and champions, each repeating his words with incredible devotion that it's both exhilarating and frightening to watch.

"Oh give thanks unto Man. For Man are not Digimon that they should corrupt. Oh give thanks unto the Digidestined, for they are the heralds of peace in the Digiworld! They are…"

The little ogre stops his sermon and turns to us. His congregation look up one by one awe and humility on their many faces. Shamanmon-Rev leaps from his pulpit of wood and crosses through his congregation, his arms outstretched, a smile on his green scaley face.

"Blessings upon us! The Digidestined have returned from their conquest of the darkness, you see, the prayers of the righteous 'mon ascended to their ears as smoke to the skies. Blessings be upon us, for before their fury all other gods fall –"

Tai raises a hand, and the Shamanmon is silent. He takes a deep breath.

"Please. Don't lead these people astray anymore. We're only human. We make mistakes." He gazes to the sky momentarily, fighting back tears again. "We are not gods."

The Shamanmon takes this pretty hard; his mouth agape and his eyes almost white with shock. Tai doesn't wait around to see what happens next, he quietly turns on his heel, clutching his injured arm, and heads back to me. "Let's go," he tells me. I agree wholeheartedly.

The morning is almost gone by the time the portal boots up. Tai goes through first. I paus and take a second to look out towards the deserts. Smoke still floats lazily from the ruins of Datamon's prison. The day is quiet, and the land is calm. But that doesn't mean we can rest easy. We have a responsibility. We're the Digidestined, and it's our duty to protect the worlds.

No matter the consequences.

GODFALL

24

Digimon