DISCLAIMER: I do not own Digimon, but I do own the plot, and DRAGOON.

Digimon Continuity

Quest for the Digimon

Chapter 19

Strikedramon Debut

:. Digital Plane - Desert Plane

03:28 PM JST

The lower half of Takato's body was stuck under Growlmon, as was Henry's. Takato tried to push Growlmon away for the umpteenth time, but to no avail. "Growlmon! Please get up!"

Growlmon let out a weak moan. "I'm trying Takato... but I'm too... tired..."

"Takato! You have to swipe a card for Growlmon!" Henry told Takato.

"But how?! My deck is stuck in my pocket with Growlmon on top, and my D-Power is..." Takato stretched for his D-Power, which was lying just short of an arm's length away. His fingers were practically brushing it, but Takato could not reach it. "... over... there..."

Henry tried to push at the Champion levelled red dinosaur, but it did not bulge even by a millimetre. "I can't even reach my D-Power, and the deck Ryo gave me is useless without it." He showed Takato the deck in his hand. It seemed that Henry had kept the deck Ryo gave him in his hand the whole time.

Takato just had to reach his D-Power to be able to use the deck in Henry's hands, but still, he stretched again and couldn't reach it. Suddenly, a rain of bullets pelted where his hand was right before he pulled it back into the safety of the rest of his body. Unfortunately, the bullets pinged off the D-Power, the rate and velocity at which the bullets hit it slid it even further away from Takato. NO! Takato mentally screamed.

Takato grind his teeth. Unless he could extend his arm, he could not do anything now. "Growlmon!! Get UP!" He tried again.

Henry did too. "Come on, Growlmon." He encouraged. "You can do it. Just a little..."

"I'll try, Takato." Growlmon said weakly as his claws dug into the sandy ground, before they straightened and Growlmon lifted himself up the few centimetres that mattered. Takato and Henry quickly struggled to get out, but their haste caused their feet to brush against Growlmon, which caused the dinosaur to be ticklish and fall right back on top of them. "I'm sorry Takato, I tried..."

"It's okay, boy." Takato said, grimacing when the weight of Growlmon fell on his legs again, then frowning at the situation.

"We got trouble, Takato." Henry announced. "We have a Mammothmon headed our way, and he's bring trouble along."

Takato turned his head to find that Henry was right. Then, he returned his gaze to the D-Power, which was just a tiny bit closer due to their eariler struggle to get out from under Growlmon. He reached for it once again, and had his fingers brush the center, and was trying to get a grip on the other side of it when it silpped and spiralled further away. He heard Henry make a frustrated noise when it did. He looked at the oncoming Mammothmon again. He could already see the grining face of the Asuramon.

"Gargo Laser!" Another barrage flew from the turrets. Assaultmon simply galloped out of range, before returning the favour.

"Justice Massacre!" Gargomon quickly put his hands up to ward off the worse of the attack, but the force of the bullets still drove him back a little.

Oh man... I wish I was Rapidmon. At least I can outrun his galloping butt. "Gargo Laser!" In lieu of the steady sounds and recoil from the bullets leaving his arm turret, all he heard was a dreadingly empty click.

He was out of ammo.

Assualtmon could have grinned. The cyborg centaur stopped in his tracks, tilted his head a little as if taunting him. Then, he finally spoke words that was not the name of his next attack. "You are out of ammunition." He stated the obvious, but hearing it made Gargomon chill on the inside. There was not going to be any refill of his ammo anytime soon. "Now, I shall finish you... and I will enjoy every moment of it."

Gargomon strained to remember whether he had ever insulted a Assualtmon before, but with the number of beings, human or Digimon, that he had insulted, he would never know. The worst thing was, he was out of wise cracks to delay Assualtmon from carrying on his deletion. "Mercy? Pretty please?" He asked, having nothing else left in his arsenal, literally too.

"HA, ha ha ha! Begging wouldn't save you now." Assaultmon laughed. "I shall delete you, absorb your data, and raise to the ranks of the Three."

In spite of himself, Gargomon could not resist not doing this one. "What Three?" However, the instant he said it, he regretted it. Even to his own ears, he sounded rude.This wisecrack that could be an express ticket to la la land.

"Ha ha ha! You will find out..." Assaultmon paused for a moment, giving Gargomon and impression that he was doing another of his hidden grins. "... after I DELETE you!" Assaultmon sprung forward, galloping toward Gargomon at an impossible speed. "Surprise Attack!!" Gargomon thought he had began to see things, when suddenly there were shadow images of Assaultmon behind him.

Assaultmon abruptly appeared in front of him, having increased his speed such that Gargomon did not see him as his eyes still had to adjust. Assaultmon's arm moved in slow motion as it went up, prolonging the painful moment. Then, the gun levelled right at his face, at point blank range. He could practically see the bullet slide in place in the dark barrel of Assaultmon's weapon. Then, the loud explosion of the bullet being launched was heard. He saw the bullet move in its comfortable location at the back of the barrel, moving closer and closer to its exit point, spinning as it came.

To his surprise and relief, the barrel was suddenly flung away, hit by a single blackish purple arm. The bullet exited the barrel and into the sand, where it could not hurt anyone

"Surprise THIS!" A voice Gargomon so gladly welcomed said.

"Cyber Nail!"

The claw hit the barrel smoothly away from Gargomon's face, and Cyberdramon delivered a fist into the Assaultmon's face. The cyborg centuar drew back, his eyes expressing shock at his new adversary.

Ryo jumped off his partner, heading over to Gargomon. "You alright?"

Gargomon nodded his head slowly, still shaken by the near deletion experience. Ryo nodded, before heading to where Growlmon was sprawled, with two poor Tamers stuck underneath.

"You guys alright?" Ryo asked in concern, having already cooled down a little from earlier.

"Yeah... but I just need my D-Power." Takato said.

Ryo took a look around and immediately spotted the Digicoded gold ringed D-Power. He picked it up, inspecting the Digicode there for the first time. It read: Digimon Tamers. He frowned. He could read Digicode like a second language, and probably speak it as fluently as he could Japanese... if it could be spoke. Regardless of whether it was the 'new' Digicode or the 'old' one, he could read both perfectly well, and in this case, it was the 'old' one. The older version of Digicode was rather complicated, almost extinct, with very few Digimon left that were still able to read it. Ryo himself only learned both during his time in ENIAC's world. It was rather simple, once one made sure not to mix up the newer and older versions.

But what bothered him more than anything else was how coincidental the code was to what they called themselves. Despite him knowing that the Digignomes were the one who created it, it gave him an eerie feeling that the name of Tamers came a long way back, meaning ENIAC himself. That very thought made him shiver. I know how Takato got this D-Power... and that it can't be... but this is ridiculous. I don't understand how this could be. Could it be Takato subconsciously put in the code? Ryo shook his head. It can't be. Takato doesn't know the code... unless...

Ryo glanced to Takato, who was staring back at him in impatience, hand outstretched. No. Takato doesn't recognise me. So it can't be him. Ryo concluded. Henry's voice suddenly exploded though his ears, as did the sounds of battle.

"RYO!!" Ryo jumped, instinctively turning around to find Henry glaring angrily at him, while Takato was cowering at Henry's outburst. "Hey, nice to see you back with us, Ryo. Mind giving Takato his D-Power so that we can get back on our feet?"

For a second, Ryo stared absentmindedly at Henry, his mind still hanging on his last thoughts and not hearing Henry's words. Then, he snapped out of it and passed Takato his D-Power, simultaneously drawing a card and passing it to Takato as well. "Sorry. Here, this should help."

Takato accepted both gratefully. "Thanks." He said before swiping the card though the card slot. The card slot glowed as the card passed though, scanning it. "Digi-Modify! Strength Plug-In O! Activate!"

Growlmon himself seemed to shine with mild light before pushing his arms against the ground, his strength slightly replenished. At long last, the two Tamers were free.

"Sorry for lying down on you, Takato." Growlmon apologised.

Takato got to his feet, only to slip and be held steady by leaning onto Growlmon's leg. "It's okay, Growlmon." Takato grind his teeth at the sensation of the blood returning to his legs.

"Tusk Crusher!!" A pair of tusks were suddenly launched at them.

"Desolation Claw!" Cyberdramon roared as data erasing energy erupted from his claws. Unfortunately, likewise for Gargomon's attacks, Assaultmon easily dodged them with his speed.

"Justice Massacre!!" Assaultmon countered as gun ports all around him opened fire on Cyberdramon. The Ultimate cyborg dragon took to the air, using his ability of flight against Assaultmon.

"Desolation Claw!!" The attack rained down on Assaultmon, but the centaur rushed though the attack, weaving in and out effortlessly despite his obvious bulk.

"Surprise Attack!" Assaultmon exited the energy rain behind Cyberdramon, and used his strong legs to kick himself into the air. Cyberdramon was taken by surprise, much to the attack's name, as he flew to one side to avoid Assaultmon's tackle. Time slowed. Assaultmon was going slowly. Already, Cyberdramon could see his mistake.

Assaultmon intended for him to dodge the tackle, for it was never the attack in the first place. Cyberdramon was forced to watch as Assaultmon's leap drew him nearer and nearer to where Cyberdramon himself hovered mere microseconds before, and point one of his arm turrets at his visor as he passed. There was not going to be anyone to save him now, unlike how he saved Gargomon.

Assaultmon's eyes shone with victory, and all Cyberdramon could do was growl in the centaur's mechanical face before the explosion of the gun firing at point-blank range in his face sent him flying backward.

Cyberdramon flew back into the sand, hitting it hard as time seemed to fast forward and make his fall even more painful.

A small light shone as what remainder of his energy he had used to Digivolve into Cyberdramon was sapped away to endure the attack, reducing him back into Strikedramon. Within Strikedramon, a headache materialized, as the three personalities within him that represented and controlled the three respective forms of Monodramon, Strikedramon and Cyberdramon shifted.

Strikedramon was now in control. The rage of Cyberdramon's personality that overcharged each and every attack faded away to be replaced by the calm intelligence of Strikedramon. Unlike most other Strikedramon, who rely on their instincts, Strikedramon neglects them for, they were simply not... him. In his opinion, instincts are unnecessary when he could already figure out all that was needed with his brainpower. Also, neglecting his instincts meant that he could use his previous memories of being in his Champion form instead of having to waste precious seconds to adapt to the abrupt switch from tanker to speeder.

"Justice Massacre!!" Assualtmon's words registered in Strikedramon's mind, as his brain processed it at a speed only a super computer could, most unlike his other personalities who never made use of this ability. With only a single microsecond, Strikedramon already worked out the math on how each and every one of the bullets would exit the turret, and considered each and every single factor of wind and the movement of Assaultmon that would unbalance the attack into the equation. In his mind, he already knew how to dodge all the bullets. It was only a question of whether his body could keep up with his lightning fast commands.

Fortunately, his Champion form's main forte was speed. And speed was all Strikedramon needed.

Strikedramon grinned as he leapt into the air, straight into Assaultmon's attack.

Rika felt each and every beat of her fast pounding heart more than anything. Ryo's words kept repeating themselves in her mind as she stared at where Ryo vanished, while Kazu, Kenta and MarineAngemon looked at her. Kyuubimon kept moving, as though she didn't hear or was awaiting for Rika's next order.

Ryo's words hit her like nothing could. The fact that they were true, very true, was the key factor. And she knew it. Why? Why am I doing this? They are my friends, right? But what does being a friend mean? Right then, she did not know which was more painful: Ryo's words, or her guilt.

She registered MarineAngemon's slight 'pu'ing, and Kenta sliently asking his partner to keep quiet. She never thought there would be a time when she did not feel like yelling at the two. She glanced at them with a frown of indecision, while they looked back in fear.

"Um... Rika... please don't yell." Kenta whispered hopefully.

That was what that snapped her. "How dare you insensitive, idiots!!" However, that was the very thing that sparked her memories, the good times with the other Tamers. She discovered through reviewing her memories one thing: She could not leave her friends to die. With a fist, she pushed Kazu and Kenta off Kyuubimon, causing them to tumble on the sandy ground. Ryo's words finally hit her. No. I am not going to lose the only friends I have since years!

"Kyuubimon..." Rika began determinedly.

"I know Rika." Kyuubimon interrupted as she made a U-turn by twisting to one side, skidding to a halt and backtracking the way she came. "I already know." Rika mentally thanked Kyuubimon, glad that her partner understood her so well. I guess Kyuubimon would have said what Ryo did at some point, but I suppose Ryo's bluntness got to me. She smiled. She suddenly felt more alive than she had ever did since Renamon disappeared. She felt as though an extremely heavy burden had been removed from her chest upon the realisation.

Kazu and Kenta's voices were soon heard. "You can't leave us here like this!!" Rika was glad to find out she was back in the mood of yelling at them.

"Stay here morons! You will be safer!"

"But..." The two protested.

She tuned out their voices, focused on getting back to the battle she had missed, and feeling Kyuubimon's enthusiasm at doing so as well. The pure joy of being where she was at the moment hit her, and she allowed herself to enjoy it; to enjoy the feeling of having such friends; to enjoy the fact that for the first time, she was not running away, that she was running to the battle to help her friends. The battle against the D-Reaper didn't count. She still doubted then, but now, she was ready, freed of any kind of restraint in attempt at friendship with her fellow Tamers.

Rika Nonaka had finally opened her eyes.

Strikedramon leapt into the rain of bullets. It was impossible to dodge them all, that much was sure, but Strikedramon made sure that the bullets that hit him would bounce off what little armor he had instead of hitting his flesh. When Strikedramon and the falling Assaultmon drew close enough, Strikedramon's metal armor began to heat up alarmingly, though Strikedramon was not bothered by it. Suddenly, his armor and his entire being burst into blue flames, in an attack not unlike Flamedramon's Fire Rocket.

"Strike Fang!!" Assaultmon could not manoeuvre in mid-air, so he brought up his arm turrets in a cross in an attempt to block the attack. Strikedramon slammed in the metal... hard. Both Digimon held that position for a moment, before bouncing off the other, Strikedramon landing agilely on his feet while Assaultmon's all four legs hit the sand and sank in, effectively trapping him. Strikedramon grinned yet again, as Assaultmon leveled his weapon at him.

"Justice Massacre!!" The gun clicked, and the gun shot sounded, but nothing came out of the turret. The weapon clicked again, but still nothing came out. Assaultmon tried his other arm turret, but still no bullets came out. Strikedramon's grin grew even wider. Assaultmon glared at him. "What have you done to my weapons?!" He asked fiercely.

Strikedramon allowed his grin to fade. "Simple. Your weapon has a cooling system that allows the turrets to cool instantly with each shot. As it was made to be efficient and be as light as possible for easy usage, it cannot withstand heat longer than the nanoseconds needed to cool it down." Strikedramon grinned yet again as realisation dawned on Assaultmon. "So, prolonged exposure to my attack has melted your turret enough such that the bullets couldn't exit. And your first shot just made it permanent. Simple, yet effective."

Assaultmon tried to charge at him, but the centaur's metal legs were trapped in the sand, and him not moving during Strikedramon's explanation made it such that he sank even further in, until his legs were rooted. "What! Why can't I move?!"

"Because you took your time to listen to me." Strikedramon said. "You are neutralised. And now to finish you." Strikedramon's claw lit up with a cold blue fire. Assaultmon's eyes widened for a moment, before he began to laugh. "What is so funny?" Strikedramon asked angrily.

"Fool. I wonder, will you stay to delete me? Or save your Tamer?" Assaultmon questioned, pointing one useless turret behind Strikedramon. The purple dragon turned around in time to see Mammothmon approaching Ryo, the other two Tamers and a red dinosaur that was likely to be the Digivolution of Guilmon.

"Tusk Crusher!!"

Hurray! I got some action time for Strikedramon! That is something I have been wanting to do for a very long time, as this Strikedramon is different from the Strikedramon from Brave Tamer.

Firstly, I would like to thank the following for reviewing:

Matt Lans - Yep, Ryo did convince her after all.
Winter-Skye-Phoenix - It is nice to see someone taking a liking to my fic. I will answer your questions in time, as I have to find room to throw them in, but they will be answered nevertheless. Thanks also for the compliment.

As for the results of the Aftermath of 02 poll:

Yes: 5
No: 3

Alright, I know now I am about to get flamed, so I'll make this quick. takes a deep breath I will be publishing Aftermath of 02 before this fic's completion, but I have to reach a certain point in Brave Tamer first, so that I can unleash the full potential of the Aftermath. You can help by voting for another poll I have put up for Brave Tamer's progress. So if you wish to see Aftermath come out sooner... vote!! Also, I have put in a new chapter for the Aftermath sneak preview to further tease you guys.

Next, please review. I suppose I should beg for more, but really. Please...

AND DON'T FLAME ME!!

But review... and vote!! XD