DISCLAIMER: I do not own Digimon, but I do own the plot, and DRAGOON.
Digimon Continuity
Quest for the Digimon
Chapter 18
Rika's Wake Up Call
:. Digital Plane - Desert Plane, Cave
DRAGOON
03:08 PM JST
"We're what?!" No way. Please don't tell me...
"Get moving! Both of you!" Ryo shouted. When none did, he let out a final bark. "NOW!"
Takato rushed for the side entrance, but tripped and fell along the way. Henry was about to do the same when Ryo limped to him and put a hand on his chest. "No. Can you get DRAGOON up and going?"
Henry stopped for an instant, trying to clear his mind of his panic to answer the question. "I... uh..." He took a deep breath. "... I think that I should be able to, but..." Ryo never let him finish, it was like a whole different person, not at all the calm, cool and collected person he knew. But then again, now was not the time to be calm and collected, especially when you're attacked by an army of Digimon.
"Then get going!" Ryo stalked out of DRAGOON, limping hurriedly to do whatever only Ryo himself knew of.
Henry watched the side door where Ryo left for a moment, before the anxiety of the situation go to him. He rushed to the monitor where he was checking out DRAGOON's programming just a while ago, and as quickly as he could, typed in the command for DRAGOON to go online. Henry heard sounds of an engine roar and whine, and he was abruptly thrown out of DRAGOON's command program.
"I have miscalculated." was the first thing DRAGOON said.
"Tell me something I don't know DRAGOON!" Henry yelled. He watched as DRAGOON complied with his command. He watched in the forward view screen as it zoomed in on the outside of the cave, showing the images of 8 Digimon, hardly an army, other than the fact that he recognised some of them as Ultimates. This is bad, real bad. He thought as he remembered their current strength. Not being able to Biomerge and Matrix Digivolve is now a really bad disadvantage now.
DRAGOON, apparently, thought the same. "We have to run. Even I doubt I would be able to handle so many Digimon at once."
Henry nodded. "I'll get the others." He said as he made his way to the side door. DRAGOON, however, closed it shut at once, preventing him from going out. "What are you doing?!" He panicked.
"I have calculated that we will not be able to make it at the speed their coming toward this cave. The only way is for me to distract them while you make your escape."
"What... but..." Henry stopped, as it was pointless to argue with them running short of time.
"GO! And do not forget to take the D-Terminal with you."
"What for?"
"It will help you communicate with me from afar. My creators should have told you that."
Henry swiped the rectangular device, and bolted out of the door. "Well, I didn't exactly stay to hear." He muttered guiltily.
"GET UP EVERYONE! WE ARE UNDER ATTACK!!"
"Stop yelling GOGGLEHEAD! Can't anyone get some sleep around here?!" A very irritated Rika Nonaka countered.
"Wha...? What's going on?" A sleepy Kazu said, rubbing his eyes. Kenta had a similar reaction.
Unfortunately, the Digimon were deep sleepers, especially Guilmon. Takato tried to wake them up, but they all simply threw an attack at him or swatted him away. Only Lopmon and MarineAngemon got up.
Strikedramon suddenly appeared out of nowhere, an obvious grin on his face. His claws lit up with a blue flame. Oh please no. Takato begged. The Champion did only one thing. "Wake up!" He threw large chunks of the fire at each of the Digimon still asleep.
Each of those hit shot awake and into the air, holding their poor behinds. The sadistic Strikedramon grinned again, and yelled to them all. "Now move before I burn you again." As if to emphasize the point, the flames got bigger.
"STRIKEDRAMON! What are you doing?!" Ryo demanded.
"Awakening the Digimon to fight." Strikedramon replied.
He saw now why Ryo was so uncomfortable with Strikedramon... his methods were... unorthodox, extremely so. Renamon was shaking her head when Henry jumped from DRAGOON. The latter then proceeded to lift off.
"What are you doing, DRAGOON? You can't leave us here!" Takato pleaded.
Henry shook his head. "He is distracting them. I have counted eight Digimon, and none of them are nice."
"We can take them easy. I took twenty at once... once." Impmon proudly announced.
"That is when you were Beelzemon." Renamon said coolly. Impmon deflated like a balloon.
Henry shook his head. "No, we can't take them. We can't Biomerge and go Ultimate." He reminded. "DRAGOON will distract them while we run. There is no choice."
Takato had no choice but to agree. "Alright. Guilmon." He looked to his partner, who was still pitifully rubbing his burnt butt. "Time to Digivolve!" He already had the card half out. "Digi-Modify! Evolution Plug-In E! Activate!"
DIGIVOLUTION
"Guilmon! Digivolve!..." Guilmon's form changed just as the latter exited the cave, becoming larger and growing to the height of 20 meters. "... Growlmon!"
The other Tamers and Digimon got out as well, before Rika took out a card that Takato didn't know she had. But I thought Ryo hasn't given her the deck. But he decided that that was one mystery that was irrelevant at the moment.
"Digi-Modify! Evolution Plug-In E! Activate!"
DIGIVOLUTION
"Renamon! Digivolve!..." Renamon's form glowed, before she went on all four limps and her tail split into nine. "... Kyuubimon!"
"Good." Kazu said as he got on Growlmon, along with Henry, Kenta and all the other Digimon. Growlmon began to complain of the weight.
"Takato. It is too heavy." He whined.
"Yeah guys." Takato said, agreeing with his partner. "Why don't one of you ride on Kyuubimon?" But even Takato knew that that was a rhetorical question. Of course no one wanted to sit with Rika. No one but Ryo would even dare approach within five feet of her.
But Growlmon had no more room left for Strikedramon and Ryo, who instructed Strikedramon to Digivolve into Cyberdramon without even using his D-Power. Then, he turned to them. "Alright, someone take Cyberdramon. He should have enough room for two humans, or all of the other Digimon."
All looked to Ryo, whom they had expected to hop on Cyberdramon. Takato asked the question on everyone's minds. "Why don't you take him?"
"I'll ride with Rika." He announced, earning shocked gasps from all. But he ignored them. "We need all the speed we can afford. So we cannot risk Growlmon collapsing of the weight halfway through. And since neither of you want to ride Kyuubimon, I will."
Kazu and Kenta sighed as they and MarineAngemon hopped on the back of Cyberdramon, rather reluctantly.
Henry put his hand to his head while shaking it. "Alright then, let's go, before we lose DRAGOON's distraction."
:. Digital Plane - Desert Plane
03:19 PM JST
TigerVespamon flew in the air, along with a HippoGryphomon. Below them, an Assaultmon galloped, guns on high alert as a Mammothmon carrying an Asuramon, two Knightmon and Ninjamon slogged onward. Ahead, one of the only shelters around for many miles was glowing with a small light, indicating their target.
They were right behind the wrath of the data storm, following its wake so that they would be unaffected by its data streams. I am glad that Darkdramon is not here. At least I would be able to have things go according to plan without him messing it up. Their Lord had commanded that Darkdramon stayed while he went with the strike team. The latter had complied, albeit reluctantly. It was not that he did not like the purple armored Mega. It was hard to hate him after working with him against the True Enemy, but he had flaws. It was those flaws that would be unacceptable in this mission.
Still, he felt a tight pinch of regret. Maybe I'll apologise to him after this is finished. It is the least I can do. Satisfied, he continued to consider the plan, looking for anything that would go wrong. Of course, a lot will go wrong, but I still have to do my best to ensure that it is kept at a minimum. The plan was simple. They would be attacking right after the storm, where the humans would be still vulnerable. None would expect that. TigerVespamon smiled behind the visor. All they had to do was make sure that the humans would not see them too soon. So far so good.
Suddenly, a gray dot materialised in the skies. His vision was acute enough to be able to discern it, but he confirmed it with HippoGryphomon flying beside him, and the beast nodded. He saw the metal flyer as well.
That does not appear to be one of the traitors... but it may be the unknown Digimon. He grinned again. This will be interesting.
The gray dot abruptly shot forward into view, while TigerVespamon shouted out. "Incoming! 12 o'clock!"
The Assualtmon below looked into the skies, before his gunports opened. "Justice Massacre!" His arm turrets took aim at the airborne enemy and fired, along with all the other weapons in his body.
Bullets and lasers filled the air while he watched the gray dot swerve from them. The gray dot followed with its own barrage of lasers, while Assualtmon quickly galloped away. Hmm... time for me to take the stage.
He motioned to HippoGryphomon, and together, they charged toward the metal Digimon. Assaultmon took a look and proceeded to continue his way to the cave entrance along with Mammothmon and his passengers where the humans were beginning to exit.
He knew this tactic. So, you are just a distraction huh? I'll give you something to distract. "HippoGryphomon! Now!"
The said Digimon nodded. HippoGryphomon opened his beak, and from it unleashed a gust of hot wind. "Heat Wave!"
The gray Digimon drew close, before the effects of the attack became visible as the Digimon began to slow down. No Digimon can handle the heat in metal armor. Fool.
TigerVespamon flew ahead, attacking as well. "Gear Stinger!" From him launched small needles that rattled on the Digimon's armor, ineffective. But TigerVespamon was only trying to gain the gray Digimon's attention...
HippoGryphomon let out a ear splitting screech. "Sonic Boom!" Like his previous attack, the effects were only seen a moment later when the Digimon tried to open fire... tried. Even though TigerVespamon was in range and getting closer, not one of the lasers even came close to him. That was the effect of the attack. Confuse. And strike!
"Mach Stinger Victory!" His blades converged on the Digimon, only for the latter to catch them in arms that had appeared out of nowhere. Full of surprises, are you? TigerVespamon thought as the Digimon's metallic head shook left and right, trying to clear the confusion. TigerVespamon took advantage of the moment and kicked the Digimon hard in his broad metal chest, propelling himself away.
Then, HippoGryphomon charged forward, slamming his head into area that TigerVespamon had vacated. The Digimon plummeted to the ground, before regaining his balance, and at last speaking.
"Why are you attacking? What have they done to deserve such an assault?"
TigerVespamon shook his head. "They have betrayed us. It is that simple."
The Digimon's eyes gazed at him, before TigerVespamon realised something. The eyes were not... organic. There was not a single Digimon in the Digital World who had mechanical eyes. TigerVespamon was lead to one conclusion... It is not a Digimon...
Outrage filled TigerVespamon. The only way for such a being to exist came to mind. HUMANS! They have been tampering! His anger peaked. I will not forgive this!
He did not wait around for another answer from the fake Digimon. Instead, TigerVespamon charged forward, shocking both the fake Digimon and HippoGryphomon. "Royal Meister!" TigerVespamon struck out with his blade, but the fake Digimon was fast, the imposter quickly dodged the attack despite his bunk.
"Enough of this foolishness. It is time to end this! HippoGryphomon!"
He could sense the doubt in the beast, but the latter did not hesitate. "Sonic Boom!"
The fake Digimon opened his 'mouth', charging an attack while dodging the sound blast by flying sideways. "Yuggoth... BLASTER!"
A purple triangle materialised in the mouth and was launched. HippoGryphomon tried to counter the attack that was launched at him by attacking as well. "Heat Wave!"
It was a slaughter. The air blast stood no chance against the energy cannon. It overwhelmed the attack of HippoGryphomon and hit the beast's head, before blasting right past the head of his comrade and raging toward him. He brought his two swords up in a defensive maneuver, as it would be too late to try and dodge the attack then.
The blast collided with his twin swords, before he watched as his two weapons disintegrated right before his eyes. Instinct overcame conscious thought as he backflipped away from the attack, but still, it overcame his temporary barrier and hit him hard.
He spun toward the ground, as HippoGryphomon's body burst into data and the fake Digimon flew toward the humans, not bothering to finish him off. You will regret not finishing me off someday... TigerVespamon thought weakly as he plummeted. I will make sure you do!
"They are coming!"
"What's that one?"
"Use your D-Power, idiots!"
"Hey! We're not idiots!"
"Shut up and check your D-Power!"
Ryo shook his head. He was on Kyuubimon, while Cyberdramon was above, and Growlmon slightly lagging behind but making up for his lack of speed by his large steps. Naturally, Rika was reluctant to let him on, but he managed to convince her... when a Mammothmon came into view with a load of dangerous passengers and one very fast Assualtmon.
Ignoring the current argument, he checked his D-Power, which gave him what he needed to know. "Assualtmon, Ultimate level, Virus type. Attacks are Justice Massacre and Surprise Attack... hmm... ironic." Ryo commented after reading the data on the D-Power's holographic screen. Rika bent over, looking at his D-Power as she was in no position to take hers. Both her hands were needed to hold onto Kyuubimon while the latter ran. He was able to take it out because he only had to hold on to Rika with one hand, albeit it being a little dangerous to do so. Rika had not done anything to him... yet.
Rika frowned. "What kind of language is that?" She asked irritably when she could not decipher the data his D-Power showed. It was not a language she knew.
"Digicode." He replied simply. "The software that converted Digicode to Japanese has been deleted... on purpose." He added, before she decided to make a fuss out of it.
"What for?"
"To make room for other things." Ryo said.
Her eyebrows knitted. "And you can read that junk?"
"Yes."
His simple answer made her turn away, frustrated. Ryo shook his head. When you try to be nice... at least you don't get yelled at.
"Waaa! Watch out!"
Ryo risked a glance behind to find Assualtmon aiming at Growlmon. "Justice Massacre!"
Bullets flew, though Takato managed to block the attack with a Defense Plug-In C modification. Growlmon countered with a Pyro Blaster, but Assualtmon's superior speed easily dodged the attack. Ryo frowned.
"Kyuubimon! Turn around!" He yelled, trying to overcome the sound of the wind.
"What are you talking about Akiyama?" Rika shouted. "Are you insane?"
"Just do it Kyuubimon!" He exclaimed, ignoring Rika. "We have to help Takato!"
"Are you an idiot Akiyama? Gogglehead can take care of himself."
Ryo watched as a Gargomon jumped from Growlmon, trying to hold Assualtmon off while Growlmon attempted to escape. But even if Growlmon did escape, Gargomon would not stand a chance against the approaching Mammothmon which had a Ninjamon, two Knightmon ready for battle and an Asuramon just waiting to use his arms. Why didn't Henry use Rapidmon? He thought, unaware of their inability to Matrix Digivolve.
"No Rika! They are your friends too. We have to help them!"
"I don't have to do anything Akiyama! Kyuubimon, ignore him."
"But Rika..." Kyuubimon protested.
"Kyuubimon!" Rika yelled, keeping Kyuubimon silent. Ryo knew for a fact that even though Kyuubimon cared for the others, she would follow Rika's orders first. And here I was hoping that Rika would become nice again... friendly again. I guess I hoped wrong...
"Fine then. If you want it to be that way..." Assualtmon had now taken down Growlmon, and the latter was one the ground with his passengers partially under him. Gargomon was shooting at Assualtmon the best he could, but even though he had the type advantage, Assualtmon was an Ultimate and he had more guns. Again, he asked himself why Henry did not Digivolve Gargomon to Rapidmon just now. "... Cyberdramon!"
His partner flew lower, before depositing his load of passengers onto Kyuubimon. "Hey! What are you doing?! Why are you giving me the two idiots?!" Rika said in annoyance, mainly because the load was Kazu and Kenta.
"Shut up Rika." He said with an aggression he had not displayed before. Rika and any complain that Kazu and Kenta had were muted. Kyuubimon kept going though, knowing that stopping was not an option. "I have had enough of you. If you wouldn't help your friends, at least take care of the ones who don't have a Digimon." Kenta appeared to want to rebuke that, but Kazu's nudging him in the ribs shut him up.
"I have always tolerated you Rika, because I thought I knew somewhere under that icy exterior was a warm side." He continued to a stunned Rika. "But the two friends that risked everything for you are now in danger, and you wouldn't even glance at them. What kind of a friend are you?!" He questioned harshly.
His eyes narrowed, and he stood up on the rapidly moving Kyuubimon, then grabbed on to Cyberdramon. "I want you to think about this Rika, think about all they have done for you. This is your wake up call Rika. There wouldn't be another one. You can choose to help us... or you can escape now, and quite possibly never see any of us ever again. If you choose that and we survive, don't you dare call any of us your friends. Because you are not fit to be a friend of any of us. Your choice, Rika. I just hope you still have a conscience."
With that, Ryo hopped onto Cyberdramon, making his way to the battle, and hoping that he was on time.
You know, I was actually kinda stuck on the last part. But I guess this will suffice. Anyways, I was really sad no one reviewed the last chapter. I hope you guys don't blame me for this chapter's rather abrupt flow.
But please review. I am begging you guys. Please...
Welcome to my world people, where I have to beg you guys to review. XD
But please do so. Really. I don't know how to emphasise this further.
Until next chapter... Still, start wondering, what will Ryo do when he finds out he can't Biomerge... the hard and dangerous way...