Chapter 6: Wrath of the Queen

Rebel Camp- Data Forest- Early Morning

I half expected to wake up in my bedroom, with all this Digital World nonsense having been a crazy dream or something, but one look at my surroundings killed that theory in an instant. I can't believe I managed to sleep on hard ground, I guess all that walking really took more out of me than I thought.

"About time you woke up,"

I turned over to see Commandramon sitting next to me, his gun laid beside him. "Everyone else is already out and about." He added. I took a look around to find he was right, I was the only one here besides Commandramon.

Worse still I didn't really have an excuse, well time to pull one out of my ass, "I guess I'm just not used to waking up without an alarm clock." I said, half jokingly as I got up. Then, something occurred to me. "How long were you sitting there watching me?" I asked Commandramon.

Commandramon stood up, "One hour, fifteen minutes, and thirty five seconds. Why do you ask?" He said, wow, I didn't expect to get such a… detailed answer. Well he was a cyborg after all, but his tone told me he didn't seem to understand why I asked this.

I got the feeling Commandramon was still trying to adjust to being around people who weren't robots or cold unfeeling overlords. "Let me put it this way, in my world, someone watching you sleep is grounds to get a restraining order." I told him, hoping he'd get the hint.

And on that awkward note, me and Commandramon left the tent, everyone in the camp was already off doing their daily tasks, some where patrolling the gates, others moving supplies, only driving the point home even more that I overslept. "Oh look who finally decided to join us!" I heard Ross say, I turned to see him and Hawkmon walking towards us. "What's the matter mate? Didn't get enough beauty sleep the night before?" He teased.

I just shook my head, "I'm just not a morning person." I replied.

Ross simply put a hand on my shoulder, "Not many of us are mate, come on, the rebels have set up breakfast for us." He said, it was then I realized just how long it had been since I ate anything, I guess hunger was the farthest thing from my mind when I was running for my life in a world I didn't understand.

Ross led me through the camp and into the mess tent, there everyone else was, Digimon included. The amount of food on the table was… absurd to put it kindly, it was like they had laid out a feast for us! Bowls of fruit sat side by side with a giant hunk of some kind of meat, not exactly the kind of meal you'd expect from a military encampment.

I took my seat among the others who were already chowing down. "Man, I haven't eaten this good in a while!" Kate said between bites of an apple. I snatched a plate from the pile and began to gather my own meal, in other circumstances I'd be more weary of eating mystery meat, but my hunger had come full force since I realized how long it had been since I'd eaten, and you know what they say, if you're hungry enough, you'll eat it not matter what it is.

The lack of utensils was a bit alarming, all there was, was a knife for carving the meat slab. Well, I guess I was using my hands, not exactly sanitary, but hey, I was too hungry to care. The meat was the first thing I dug into… even from the taste I still couldn't tell what it was, some bizarre mix between beef and pork. It was better than I expected, I wolfed it down in seconds.

Ross took a seat next to me and began to prepare his own plate, "God Jason, how long's it been since you ate anything?" He asked, noticing how quickly I was downing everything.

Well, best be honest, "Since my lunch break at work yesterday." I said before chomping into a pare.

Ross took a bit out of an orange before replying, "Where do you work?" He asked me, it then dawned on me, we all barely knew a thing about each other, but to be fair, it's not like we ever got the chance to given all the crap we'd had dumped on us yesterday, we had spent most of that day after the talk with Kentaruosmon just digesting all we had learned.

"I work the electronics section at Walmart." I told him, wasting my life away at Walmart wasn't exactly something I was proud of, but I had to make ends meet and well, it was either that or McDonald's.

Ross shook his head, "I work at a tattoo parlor up in Norwich." He said, of course his job was cooler than mine, but with a bar set as low as "Walmart desk jockey" it's not like it wasn't that hard.

Ethan shook his head, "I don't have a job, my dad wants me to focus on school." he said, his tone had a hint of annoyance, I would have asked but I doubted it would be something he wanted to discuss.

Kate smiled, "So am I, Sam does the working for our household." She said, Sam I'm assuming was her boyfriend or possibly even husband.

Ross of course, couldn't help himself, "So your boyfriend has you as a housewife eh?" He said with a snicker.

Kate looked at him, "Girlfriend actually, Sam is a girl." She said, wait… she's a lesbian? Not that there was anything wrong with that, but it still kind of came out of nowhere. Kate didn't seem at all bothered by our shock, telling me she was used to getting that reaction.

"Dude you're gay?" Ethan suddenly blurted out.

Kate simply flicked her hair, "What? You disappointed Ethan?" She said, teasing him. Ethan blushed in embarrassment and returned to his meal. Kate then turned back to the rest of us, "Me and Sam have only been together for a year or so. We only recently moved into a house together." She explained.

Ross shook his head, "I live alone in a run down old flat." He said with a slight smirk.

Oh god, I have to tell them don't I? "I… I still live with my mom." I said, causing Ross to burst out laughing. Yup, called that one, but Ross seemed to be the only one who found this funny.

"You what mate? What's the matter? Still need mum to tuck you in at night?" He said between giggles.

"I have to help pay for the house, she's a single parent." I elaborated, causing Ross to stop laughing. "Ever since Dad left us it's been on me to pick up the slack." I added, my dad wasn't something I exactly liked discussing, it was a sore subject to say the least, but it helped the others to understand my situation.

There was a moment of awkward silence before someone decided to change the subject, "So, how'd you guys end up here?" Ethan asked, clearly more to change the subject than an actual inquiry.

I decided to help out, since I didn't want to talk about my home life right now, "I was at work when this weird looking hobo came in and put a disc on the counter, I took it home and well, you know the rest." I explained.

Ross then turned to me, "Same here, it was this old tramp with a ball cap on." He said.

"Yeah, it was a Boston Red Sox cap right?" Ethan then asked, okay this was freaky, the same exact bum showed up to all three of us.

Kate nodded, "He had a black trench coat on, long scraggly hair." She added, further confirming it was indeed the same bum that found all four of us.

I decided to throw out a theory, "Kentaruosmon said he had an agent in our world, I'm guessing the bum was that agent." I suggested, it seemed pretty cut and dry when you really stopped to think about it, the same guy came to all four of us, despite us being in different countries. But that begged the question, why a bum? And who or what was he really?

But before anyone could respond, suddenly there was a loud explosion! The blast rattling the camp. Suddenly the entire mess tent was awash in panicked Digimon rushing to see what it was that had just happened.

Without a word, me and the others followed suit, we rushed into the center of camp to find the far wall was on the ground and burning, and you'll never guess what was pouring in from said fallen wall… Commandramon's old friends! Joy…

Ethan just shook his head, "They followed us?! All the way here?! Don't they have anything better to do?" He said, Hey as long as the tank ones weren't here too I'm good! But this was still bad, how the hell did they find us so quickly?

"I want every rebel in this camp dead! We aren't interested in prisoners today!"

I looked to see an all too familiar woman come through the destroyed gate, it was the Digimon Queen herself, and it seemed that they were intent on killing the whole camp! And her forces went on to do just that, attacking and slaughtering the rebels. More and more of the queen's forces began pouring in, not all of them were Commandramon, there were a few bigger lizard soldiers, each brandishing a nasty looking combat knife.

"Sealsdramon." Commandramon said from behind me, hey as long as she doesn't bring in a Tankdramon I'm good! I don't exactly feel up to running from a nuclear missile today thank you.

I then saw Kentaruosmon rush onto the scene, "Bridget Shuno… I had a feeling we'd see each other again." He said, clearly referring to the Digimon Queen as he locked eyes with her.

She growled slightly, "Don't call me that!" She growled. Apparently she wasn't too big on what I assumed was her real name.

Kentaruosmon shook his head, "This was not why you where brought here Bridget! End this madness now while there's still a chance!" He said, clearly there was more to the Digimon Queen than I thought previous.

She then did something I was not expecting, she produced from her coat pocket… a digivice. A black one with red grips, out of it came an energy whip. "I don't want a damn lecture! I've had enough of you and your damn resistance!" She yelled before whipping at Kentaruosmon.

The whip hit him but didn't really do any damage as he barely even flinched. "You disappoint me Bridget, but it's clear you've made your choice. You'd rather allow despair to consume you than see the light. I hope it was worth it." He said before another explosion went off, and… oh come on! No! NO!

A convoy of Tankdramon began to funnel into the newly made hole in the gate, oh come on one was bad enough! Now there were like… six of the bastards! That's just not right dude… Kentaruosmon looked to the Tankdramon and then back to me, "I'll handle the Tankdramon, you and your friends do what you can to stop the Commandramon and Sealsdramon!" He ordered us, before so much as a "yes sir!" could be uttered, he ran off to engage the tank demons.

I then heard laughter come from the Queen. "So you're the suckers Kentaruosmon brought here to replace me huh? I expected more." She scoffed, suddenly her little wolf friend appeared behind her, she then looked to Commandramon, "And what do we have here? It seems you've stolen one of my Commandramon, if it's all the same to you I'd like it back." she growled.

I looked to Commandramon, his face it's usual flat expression, honestly I expected him to have more of a reaction to the psycho who had his arm torn off but that wasn't important right now, I turned back to her, "Forget it! Not after what I saw you do to him!" I snapped, I was doing my best to hide how scared I was right now, I had no clue if I could take her in a fight, last time Commandramon and the wolf had an encounter, it ended with Commandramon one arm short.

The Queen grew a wicked smirk, "How cute, you think they're real… don't you?" She said, what the hell did that mean? He was standing right there! How is he not real?! "Let me clue you in on something little boy, this world… these Digimon… it's all just a complex computer simulation. None of this is real… it may look real, feel real, but it isn't. Now tell me something… are you really going to waste your time trying to play hero in a fake world?" She said.

I didn't like how much sense she was making, it certainly explained a lot. How fake the forest looked, that unending feeling of wrong this world gave off, I even came here through my god damn computer! It really did sound stupid when you thought about it, we were going to risk life and limb to save a simulation pretty much.

But… no… there was more to the Digital World than that, sim or not, what was happening here wasn't right, these creatures were suffering! Even if it is all just data, something about this place felt… real. "Maybe it's all fake to you, but the pain you and your king are causing is all too real! These are real creatures! With real feelings! You've let your apathy turn you into a monster! And I will stop you!" I said.

The Digimon Queen seemed taken back by this, however she quickly shook it off, "And I'm sure pro wrestling's still real to you too isn't it kid? You're hopeless, a dorky little kid trying to live out his childish fantasies of being a hero! Allow me, to bring you back to reality. Okamon!" She said, the wolf, Okamon apparently, nodded and quickly vanished.

Before I could even begin to wonder what was happening I felt myself being knocked to the ground, laid out flat on my back before Okamon stomped on my chest, "I don't take pleasure in hurting you kid, but it's what master wants." He said before he began to apply pressure.

I could feel my ribs bending from the weight, it wouldn't be long before they gave, the queen then knelt next to me, "Oh make no mistake kid, I'm not going to kill you, I'm just going to hurt you enough so you get it through that thick skull of yours that you can't stop us!" She said.

Well at least I wouldn't die, just be horribly injured! What is wrong with this girl?! She's either completely detached, or insane. Maybe even a mix of the two! I looked around me hoping to see one of the others rushing to my aid, only to see they were all busy engaging the Commandramon, trying to stop the queen's forces from destroying everyone and everything in this camp. I was on my own here, and it didn't look like I was going to turn this around.

"LEAVE HIM ALONE!"

Suddenly Okamon was tackled off of me by a teal and blue blur. I coughed and sputtered as the crushing weight of Okamon's foot was taken off of me. I managed to look up to see Okamon on the ground, with Commandramon aiming his rifle right at his head!

The Queen rose to her feet, gritting her teeth in anger, her digivice shot out it's laser whip again, "Defiant little sh**! You serve ME!" She snarled as she cracked the whip right at Commandramon, getting him right on the snout, he flinched a little but kept his gun on Okamon.

He turned his gaze to the Queen, "Jason saved my life after you tried to have your pet kill me! You've done nothing but abuse me and my comrades! Why the hell should I obey you?!" He growled.

The Queen grew even more angry, "You little sh**! Fine! If that's what you want! You can die with the rest of these rebel scum! Okamon! Finish him!" She barked, Okamon quickly knocked Commandramon's gun out of his hands, and hit him with a swift kick to the stomach.

Commandramon tumbled backwards until he was finally able to catch himself, he then found himself hit with a devastating combo from Okamon, Okamon seemed to be effortlessly out maneuvering Commandramon, as every attempt by him to fight back was only met with a swift counter and huge blow.

Okamon then cocked one of his hands back, "SHADOW SHOT!" He bellowed, suddenly he shot a dark energy blast out of his paw that hit Commandramon flush, sending him through a tent, said tent collapsing around him.

Satisfied, Okamon began to approach the downed soldier, "You should have just obeyed Commandramon… you could have lived a longer life." Okamon said, charging another Shadow Shot, "Goodbye Commandramon." He added, aiming his shot at Commandramon, who was too dazed to even know what was happening.

I couldn't let this happen! I had to stop this! I was scared, more scared than I had ever been before! But Commandramon needed someone to help him! I had to be brave, I had to overcome my trepidation and save him, I rushed at Okamon as fast as my legs would allow, the dark energy ball in his paw was getting bigger, it would only be mere seconds before he got the shot off!

CRACK!

Before he even knew what was happening, I caught him with the strongest right hook I could muster, it clearly didn't hurt him all that much, but it was able to force him to adjust his shot, missing Commandramon entirely. I then felt the Digivice in my pocket begin to rattle and shake violently, as my hand was covered in some kind of red, pixelation. Almost like badly rendered fire. I stared at it for what felt like hours, but then something in me was telling me what I needed to do now.

I picked my Digivice out of my pocket, "Digispirt!… CHARGE!" I found myself saying almost out of instinct. I brought the pixel colored hand onto the top of the Digivice, almost like it was a Power Rangers morpher. The Digivice came alive, whirring and glowing a bright red as a bright beam shot out and hit Commandramon, who soon began to share it's red glow.

"Commandramon Digivolve too…" I heard him cry as his form began to shift and change. He was growing much taller and more lean, and his gun shifted into a combat knife. The bright light burst away, revealing his new form, "SEALSDRAMON!" He bellowed. He now resembled those knife wielding creatures that had come after the queen's Commandramon.

Speaking of the queen, "Impossible! How did you-?!" She fumbled, completely floored that I had done… whatever it was I had just done… What did I do again?

Okamon seemed to be very weary of Sealsdramon, as he seemed visibly nervous. Sealsdramon seemed to quickly pick up on this, "What's the matter? Still a rookie level? That's a shame." He boasted.

Okamon quickly shook it off, "I've beaten Champion levels before! Don't get too cocky." He snarled before charging another Shadow Shot, he fired, but Sealsdramon dodged it effortlessly.

Sealsdramon managed to maneuver himself behind Okamon, "DEATH BEHIND!" He shouted before the sounds of metal piercing flesh hit the air, Okamon yelped as Sealsdramon's knife hit it's mark. Okamon fell forward after Sealsdramon removed the knife from Okamon's back.

Okamon quickly no-sold getting literally stabbed in the back and hit Sealsdramon with a round house kick, Sealsdramon staggered a little, but quickly regained his footing and answered back with a right hook, knocking Okamon back. It was clear that, while Okamon was a more seasoned fighter, Sealsdramon had the level advantage. Okamon struggled to get up, "H...how? How is this possible?" He coughed.

Sealsdramon approached the downed canine, "Because unlike you, I have a friend who cares. And through that friend, I've become more powerful than you. I'm not her underling anymore!" He said, he readied his knife for the killing blow, but relented, "But I'm not like you, I'm not going to be the monster you or your master wanted me to be." He said, turning his back on him.

Okamon seemed enraged, but was too beaten to attack, "You coward! Get back here and FINISH THIS!" He yelled, but if Sealsdramon heard him, he didn't show it. I took a look around to see that, despite all the damage done to the camp, the rebels had somehow managed to turn the battle around and drastically lower the numbers of the Queen's forces.

The Queen herself seemed to realize this as she looked around, "FINE! You win this time! But next time we meet, you won't be so lucky!" She said, before taking her leave, Okamon following behind her along with what remained of her forces.

Suddenly the camp exploded in cheers, this day, victory was ours! The other Digidestined all surrounded me, "That was SICK dude! How'd you do that?" Ethan said, referring to how I turned Commandramon into Sealsdramon.

"He unlocked his Digispirit."

Kentaruosmon then approached us, "Each of you has the ability to tap into what is known as Digispirit, each of you has it linked to your strongest trait, Jason's was Courage." He explained.

Uhh… I'm a lot of things… but courageous is not one of them! "Y… you're joking right? I can't even face an angry customer without freaking out..." I tried to explain, but Kentaruosmon cut me off, "But you faced Okamon anyway, if attacking someone much stronger than you to save a friend isn't courageous, I don't know what is." He corrected me.

He then looked to the others, "You all have a diferent Digispirit, it's on to you to discover what it is, for now, you've all earned a rest, but keep in mind, you'll all soon need to begin your journey eventually." He said before taking his leave.

Meanwhile…

How the hell did he do that?! I'd been trying for so long to unlock this damn device's digivolution abilities to no avail, but some geeky kid managed to do it in seconds flat! The idea vexed me, but it didn't matter, next time we met, me and Okamon would be ready… and that blonde little punk wouldn't fare nearly as well…

A/N- And thus our first Digivolution is revealed! And our journey begins! Will our heroes stop the Digimon King? What kind of wacky misadventures will our heroes encounter? Stay tuned.

And as for why this chapter is… two days, late? Well, I suddenly came down with a nasty head cold and wasn't exactly feeling up to writing as I lay there coughing my lungs up, feeling like death.

And don't worry, Kate will get a partner eventually, I'm just still trying to figure out what it's going to be…