I'm so sorry about the wait. I have so many papers and projects due right now. But I'm still keeping the story going. I plan to move the storyline with Ryo, Cyberdramon, and DemiDevimon along. Thus, there will be some brief flashbacks as Ryo begins to remember more and more of his past. Nothing specifically important, just little tiny bits of his old life. Odd little things will begin to spark short memories for him without really distracting him from the real world.
There should also be some fun in this chapter. Specifically, it has Kazu acting like… well, Kazu.
The black machine just sat there silently. Or maybe loomingly would be a better term. There was a sense of threat surrounding the object. He knew exactly what it was and what it could do. It was dark, dangerous, and… kind of cool.
Kazu stared at his discovery carefully. He wondered how it ended up here in the monochromatic village, after everything that occurred when last they kids encountered it, but wasn't extremely surprised. True, it was supposed to be gone. But even during the fight, he couldn't actually remember it being destroyed. That didn't mean it was safe, however. There was a fairly good chance that it could get him hurt.
"Kazu, I believe that is the vehicle that Beelzemon rode when he attacked us," Guardromon stated.
The boy nodded, "The one that possessed the rider? Except for Beelzemon, that is. And that Takato said terrorized a village for a while before it took over Guilmon temporarily? Yep, that's Behemoth."
The motorcycle was just sitting motionless in the middle of the black and white town. The demonic machine looked so innocent (relatively speaking). It didn't look like anything more than an awesome bike that the coolest "bad boy" would die to own. And Kazu felt drawn to it.
Unfortunately, his common sense didn't agree to his current trail of thought. The voice of reason (Rika's voice, as usual) began to scold him.
"Have you lost what's left of your mind?" the copy of the red-head's voice shrieked. "That thing is dangerous."
"Just for a minute," he muttered. "What could happen?"
"Let's see. It could possess you and begin rampaging across the landscape. You'll end up being used to destroy small villages and your partner won't be able to help you. Riding that bike is stupid, even for you."
"It didn't possess Beelzemon," the tamer pointed out. "And it's self-aware, right?"
"Kazu, who are you talking to?" asked Guardromon.
The boy stammered, "Ah, well… no one, really. Well, sort of myself. But it sounds a little like Rika. Not that she's actually is here. What I mean is… never mind."
The robotic digimon blinked, "Oh… Very well."
"Good," he nodded. "Now here's the plan. We aren't moving really fast, even if I ride on you. My plan is genius. We ride the evil motorcycle."
His brilliant idea was met with less enthusiasm than the hat-wearing tamer had hoped. The metallic being glanced between Kazu and Behemoth uneasily and the boy's common sense snorted in disgust. Rather than being discouraged, the kid pressed on enthusiastically.
"I know you're concerned about the whole 'possess the driver' thing, but I think that I have a shot at this. The thing is loyal to Beelzemon and he's on our side now. Thus, if we explain that to the 'living motorcycle,' it shouldn't try to take over our minds. Which means we can get a ride."
"Please tell me that you're not actually going to try that idea," his voice of reason groaned. "You'd stand a better chance of inviting the Devas over for a tea party with Hypnos in the old days. At least Lopmon wouldn't attack you for the idea. Unlike Beelzemon, you are not a mega level, psycho biker on a mission to destroy. You're a human with a tin-can champion trying to find Floramon's village. Don't you think that maybe Behemoth will notice the difference and not be happy? Besides, it wasn't around when he changed sides."
Ignoring Rika's voice in his head, Kazu slowly approached the vehicle. When he was ten feet away, the bike revved his engine threateningly.
"Kazu, even if the motorcycle relents to your logic," Guardromon reminded, "I am not sure I can actually ride it."
Glancing over his partner's bulky form, the boy had to agree that his friend wasn't really designed to be a passenger. He probably would fall off the bike in five feet of travel. If the vehicle could actually move at all with the heavy passenger on board. But Kazu was never one to give up an idea easily.
"I'll think of something, don't worry. Maybe after I convince it to help us, I could digivolve you to Andromon. It should be easier to ride that way. Just wait there unless it looks like I'm having trouble."
"Or get yourself killed," muttered his common sense. "When you get yourself killed, I won't pity you. And if you live, I'll kill you. Now, get away from the demonic bike before you end up as road kill."
"In the words of Terriermon, 'momentai.' This is not the stupidest thing I've ever done," he whispered.
He could picture the fierce female tamer glare at him, "No, but its way up there. The stupidest thing you ever done was trying to convince Jijimon and Babamon to be your and Kenta's partners and ended up acting like you were their digimon. This counts under one of the most stupid dangerous things you have done since the D-reaper incident. Is that specific enough, idiot?"
Instead of wincing at the voice's tone, Kazu adopted a goofy grin, "Well, in a minute it'll be the most awesome thing I've done. After all, nothing will stop BlackWarKazumon and his parter, Guardromon, from saving the day in style. What do you say to that?"
"Kazu, you are speaking to yourself again," his metallic digimon pointed out.
"This will not end well," grumbled his inner voice.
"Okay," the boy sighed. "Behemoth, bike of supreme awesome and Beelzemon's sweet ride." The youth figured a little flattery couldn't hurt. "You probably don't remember this, but we know your boss."
The motorcycle revved its engine again, the sound almost predator-like in its savageness. How a motor could sound threatening, Kazu wasn't sure. But Behemoth somehow managed it.
"Yes, he was attacking us and our friends at the time he 'lost' you," the tamer admitted. "But a bunch has happened since then. He's on our side now. We're all on the same team, bringing justice to where ever we go."
The machine didn't respond to this extravagant claim. The boy did think that the black vehicle would be rolling his eyes if he had them. Still, he kept talking and slowly walking towards the bike.
"I know, it seems hard to believe. But he really is on our side now. He's our friend. And since you're his bike, that means you're on our side too. All I want is a small favor. Let me ride you without being possessed. That way, we can get to Floramon's village, find our friends, and get back home. Deal?"
He waited for the motorcycle to react to the request, but it never did. The demonic bike simply sat there quietly. Kazu took this as agreement to the favor. Grinning confidently, the boy turned and waved at Guardromon encouragingly. The robotic champion still seemed uncertain of his partner's plan. While the digimon normally supported the tamer's ideas, it was clear that he felt this one was not the best or safest.
"Why is it you think this hare-brained scheme will work?" asked his inner Rika. "Do you think the crazed bike that rampaged across the landscape for fun is loyal enough to Beelzemon that it'll behave because some dorky kid, that the mega intended to kill last time, says they're best buds now?"
"Pretty much," he answered.
"This is why you need a baby-sitter," the voice grumbled. "Or a keeper."
The tamer set his hand on the handlebars of the motorcycle. He could fell the vibrations the running engine caused, but it showed no signs of aggression. If anything, it felt like the purring of a cat. The lack of aggression served as further encouragement for the youth's plan.
"Nice bike," he murmered. "Good bike. Non-psycho bike."
With slow, careful motions, Kazu eased his body onto the vehicle. A series of clangs suggested that Guardromon was still uneasy about the situation unfolding. He was shifting in place, anxiously watching as the boy asked him to.
The tamer sat on Behemoth finally. To his pleasant surprise, he didn't immediately feel his mind being controlled by the bike. He glanced around, unable to believe his luck. Kazu smiled when he realized his plan was actually working.
"I told you so," he smirked, addressing his inner Rika. "I told you it would work."
It was at this point where Behemoth took off at neck-breaking speed across the cobblestone road. The motorcycle wasn't controlling him, but it did have a rider. Normally, it took over the passenger for convenience. This time, it didn't for two reasons. Just in case the kid was actually friends with Beelzemon, Behemoth didn't want to hurt, kill, or mind control the tamer. Besides, it would be far more fun to give Kazu a ride he'd never forget than simply use him as another puppet driver. Thus, the bike focused on sharp turns, wheelies, and swift changes in speed rather than simply traveling the longest distance in the shortest time possible. Essentially, it was doing the vehicle equivalent of a bucking bronco.
While Kazu screamed in terror and clutched the handlebars for dear life, he could make out his digimon shouting his name. Doubtless, the robotic champion was using his jetpack to follow the rapidly-changing direction of the demonic bike. But most of all, the shrieking tamer heard a certain female's voice ringing in his ears.
"I told you so, idiot."
The tunnel spiraled down into pitch-black darkness. Ryo moved cautiously, following DemiDevimon's voice as the bat lead them to their next target. The bat hurriedly explained that the cave connected to a layer of the digital world that attracted viruses of the worst kind. And anyone who found their way there either learned to handle the dangerous, heartless creatures quickly or they didn't last long.
"Of course, the whole digital world is like that at times," the rookie admitted. "But this area is home to the worst. The entire layer seems to ooze evil. But lots of digimon seem to like it that way. Which is why we're going there."
"Because we'll find the 'evil' digimon we're looking for?" the boy asked, wishing he could see the virus.
"Exactly. From what I know, LadyDevimon and, sometimes, Myotismon tend to prowl the area near the cave entrance," explained DemiDevimon. "They enjoy the 'prey' that can wander in there."
"And Cyberdramon is supposed to defeat both so that you can gain power. Are you sure that this is right?" questioned Ryo. The hint of doubt, nurtured by the bat's behavior around Destiny and the desperate questions the virus asked about what the boy was told, suggested that the plan might not be the best thing to follow. But the newly digivolved Cyberdramon seemed eager for the coming battle. "I mean…"
"Trust me, Ryo, it'll be alright," the viral rookie answered. "This is what you are meant for. It is why you and your partner met me in the first place. It's fate. I'm supposed to gain power with your help so that those who betrayed us will be punished. And aren't I just picking evil digimon? Everything will work out, my friend."
The brown-haired youth sighed and nodded, even knowing that his actions would be unseen. Other than the Floramons and Seadramon back in the village, DemiDevimon was the only digimon that wanted to help who wasn't his partner. True, the boy didn't know many digimon. But ever since he could remember, Floramon warned many digimon would attack first. But the bat offered advice and guidance to the pair. The virus answered questions about the past. Ryo and Cyberdramon needed these answers.
"Is it getting lighter?" asked the boy, realizing he could almost make out the flapping figure.
"We're almost there," explained DemiDevimon. "Once we leave the cave, keep an eye out for either LadyDevimon or Myotismon. Like I said, they prowl the area."
As the viral rookie finished speaking, the trio came around a turn in the tunnel. The cave ended abruptly. Though it was brighter than the cave, the exterior still appeared dim.
It was daytime, but the sky was covered in an unfamiliar/familiar dark-grey haziness with purplish flashes of light. Storm clouds. The sky is covered in storm clouds. Thunder and lightning clash as the storm worsened. The brown-haired boy, young and innocent, flinched at the sound. He watched the heavy clouds unleash their burden. Huge raindrops splattered across the window. When another bolt flashed, the child Ryo whimpered and sought out the comfort of his parents. The glowing orb that represented the human world could be seen through the cloud cover, but the storm clouds hid the details.
Jagged rocks covered the landscape and shadows stretched along the ground. The entire level seemed to be in a half-night state. Twilight. The sunset was technically over, though there were still hints of orange and red light at the edges of the sky. Colorful lights turned on in front of buildings. He was running; Monodramon followed. Two more figures, a young girl and a brown rabbit, seemed to be traveling with him and his partner. They ran towards a foreboding mist. The area seemed only to consist of sharp edges and angular shapes, lacking the softer curves and colors that were prominent in the forest layer. And there was no cheerful golden light that shone between the leafy canopy and reflected off the cool water in the lake.
In the distance, so far away that he could barely see, a tiny white dot sat on a dark grey mountain. There was a faint hint of a trail up the rocky surface that might or might not lead to the object on top. There was no greenery or other signs of life across the stone mountain side.
"What's that?" he asked, indicating the only object in view that wasn't a dark colored.
DemiDevimon winced, "Very dangerous. It's a castle where a bunch of extremely powerful megas live. They are evil and nearly invincible. Some of the more superstitious freaks think they are the reason all these evil viruses are attracted here. Others think they make them evil with their very presence and that before they created that castle and moved in, this layer was just another one. Kind of like the forest layer, only with more varied terrain. Everyone stays out of their way."
Without warning, Cyberdramon began a feral growl. He jerked his head towards a particular clump of rocks. The ultimate stepped out of the cave.
"What is it?" the boy asked.
The vaccine growled, "A target."
A bored sigh announced her presence before she appeared directly. From behind the boulders indicated by Cyberdramon, a tall, grey humanoid shape stepped into sight. Her white hair flowed behind her unbound. Chains wrapped around her figure while her grey patchwork clothes bore images evil grins with red eyes at a variety of locations: both of her boots, her right knee, and the back of her left hand. Her long arms ended in sharp claws, some of which were crimson in color, and seemed perfect for slashing through innocent digmon. Black, tattered wings hung around her like a cloak. Blood-red eyes glowed from under her grey mask on her pale face. She glanced at them boredly.
"How nice," she yawned. "A couple of pathetic digimon for me to destroy. And a poor little human who's lost his way. Don't worry, I'll take care of you."
Ryo studied the grey creature, "LadyDevimon, I presume?"
"Glad to know I'm famous," she grinned cruelly.
"Enough talk," snapped Cyberdramon. "Fight!"
With that, he shot past the boy and bat. The vaccine ultimate launched himself at the humanoid virus. Though she seemed surprised, she met the attacker's enthusiasm with her own.
"Evil Wing!" she announced, releasing a swarm of bat-shaped creatures of darkness on Cyberdramon.
"Desolation Claw!" shouted the cyborg digimon, destroying her attack before tackling her at full force.
Not the best update I've ever done, but not the worse either. Hopefully, I'll be able to write longer chapters as I get caught up on the various projects currently required by my numerous classes. Specifically, next week is my spring break. Even if I don't post much that week for some dumb reason, I will certainly be writing something out on paper. As always, reviews are appreciated by the writer. Hope you're enjoying the story so far.