Sonic and Takumi walked up to another Gate. They put in the Gear and returned to Cyber Space.

Takumi and Guardromon stood in an underground tunnel. "The Nakano Underground." Takumi said. He sighed looking ahead. "I can already feel the bad memories stirring…"

"Takumi…"

"Sorry, this isn't the time to complain. Let's go."

"Alright." They started walking forward and then a Seadramon and Ikkakumon appeared. "Stay back Takumi!"

"Let's make this quick. The sooner we get out of here the better."

"Nobody does rails like we do." Sonic grinned as he boosted across a curving rail that ran loops before he landed on solid ground and rent through the portal.

Takumi and Guardromon soon reached the end of the tunnel and went into a hidden lab. And on the far end was a familiar machine. "This is the end." Guardromon said. "Our final obstacle should be here." He started scanning.

Takumi looked around. "I don't see it anywhere." Painful memories came back to him. "I just hope what we're about to fight is Crusadermon and not-

Guardromon's sensors picked up something and he looked up. "Watch out!" He grabbed Takumi and flew back. A monster crashed into the ground in front of them. One with multiple legs, a giant eye, and most alarmingly someone trapped on it with a giant blade on their head.

Takumi looked up at it in shock. "No…"

The monster stomped towards them. Guardromon stepped forward. "Takumi, here it comes! …Takumi!"

The boy just sat there petrified. "…Yuuko…"

Sonic returned with the keys. "Okay, that's done." He looked at the Gate. "Huh, normally Takumi and I finish at the same time. Did something happen?" He turned to the Gate. "Maybe I can see how he's doing with this thing somehow." He walked up and put a hand on it then closed his eyes.

The Eater Eve slammed its giant pointed arms down at Guardromon who jumped back then fired missiles. When they hit, a muffled scream was heard. "Yuuko!" Takumi shouted.

"Takumi, this isn't her!" Guardromon said.

"But…but what if it is?! If we destroy this thing, then Yuuko will-

"Takumi, get a hold of yourself!" The monster stood on its back legs and made its prisoner hold the blade up high before swinging it. The Memory Divide shot a beam that toppled Guardromon. "Agh!"

"Guardromon!"

Sonic gasped and opened his eyes stepping back. "Okay…that's seriously messed up."

"Sonic?" Tails and Yuuko hurried over. "Is everything alright? Yuuko though she got communications up for her Digivice, but she can't reach Takumi's. …Wait, where is he?"

Sonic turned to them. "Well…"

"Did something happen to him?" Yuuko asked in a frightened tone.

Sonic cringed and looked at the Gate. "Maybe you should see for yourselves." Yuuko and Tails aproached and put their hands on the Gate and closed their eyes.

The Eater Eve attached it's pointed "hands" against the form of Yuuko and it struggled as a giant energy ball formed unleashing a Mastermind Port attack that blew Guardromon down. "Gah!" He slowly sat up. "I won't last much longer like this…Takumi, I need a strategy here!"

Takumi ran up to the Eater and held his hand towards it. But nothing happened. "What?!" He looked at his hand. Then the Eater roared and prepared to strike with its blade.

"TAKUMI MOVE!" Guardromon accelerated on his thrusters and scooped his partner up before flying him out of the way before the blade sunk into the ground.

Yuuko and Tails shuddered and opened their eyes. "Takumi!" Yuuko gasped.

"He's afraid that that…thing might be you." Sonic said. "It's screams are so real…"

Tails turned to Yuuko. "We have to let him know you're still here with us! Yuuko, give me your Digivice! I might be able to hook it up to Cyber Space to contact his!"

"Alright! Please, hurry!"

Guardromon was smacked to the ground by the Eater. "Guardromon!" Takumi ran up to his Digimon.

"Ugh…Takumi…we can't stall it any longer."

"I don't understand! Why is the Connect Jump not working?!"

"Don't you get it?! You may be in Cyber Space, but you're not half-cyber! And even if you were, that is not the real Yuuko! It's not even a real Eater!"

"Did you not hear the screams when you hit it?! How can that not be her?!" Takumi's Digivice started beeping. "Huh?"

A screen appeared showing Yuuko. "Takumi, are you there?!"

"Y-Yuuko…?"

"Takumi, that's not me! That's just another copy made from your memories! You have to destroy it!"

"Yuuko…I…"

"Don't you have something you need to do? Don't lose your conviction Takumi!"

Yuuko stared at her for a bit longer then put on a brave face. "Alright." He stood up and opened a menu to use a program to heal Guardromon. "Okay, I think I got an idea. All of its attacks require those arms and that blade. If we can disable them, it'll lose all attack capability and we can destroy it no problem."

"Roger." Guardromon replied.

"When it looks like it's about to use that orb attack, aim for the tendrils connected to the arms. They look frail, a strong enough hit should break them."

"Very good Takumi." Guardromon stood ready. The Eater Eve crawled towards them. It prepared another Mastermind Port. "Warning Laser!" As it was charging, Guardromon shot lasers from his eyes that burnt through the limbs and the arms collapsed to the ground.

Takumi winced at the sound of the scream. "Ugh…"

"Takumi, don't listen to it!" Yuuko shouted. "Stay focused!"

The boy closed his eyes and breathed deep. "I know. Guardromon, stop that blade!"

Guardromon looked up as the Eater got on its back legs and rose the sword again. But before the Memory Divide could go through, Guardromon caught the sword between his palms. After struggling for a bit, he snapped the blade in half. He then ascended on his thrusters, backed up, and rammed into the Eater pushing it back. "Grenade Destroyer!" Missiles exploded making the Eater stumble back. "Grenade Destroyer! Grenade Destroyer!" Guardromon shot it again and again. The monster was backed into a wall.

Takumi couldn't stop looking at the human strapped to it. Yuuko stared at him worryingly. "Takumi…"

"I know." Takumi closed his eyes. "Guardromon… end this."

Guardromon nodded. He fired missiles and lasers at the same time. The Eater exploded. Takumi winced at the sight even after the Digi-Orb and the portal appeared. "Takumi… I'm okay." Yuuko said. "You did the right thing."

"…Yeah…" Takumi picked up the orb and left with Guardromon.

The visions showed Yuugo making a speech to all hackers announcing his plans. "If there are any who share our aspirations, then join us! For Under Zero!" Then they showed Takumi and Arata defeating Yuugo in Under Zero then watching Nokia defeat Fei. "Why do you have to interfere?! I just want to save the world that was my father's dream!"

"Hey, hey, what's going on?" Arata asked. "Your mannerisms are suddenly all feminine. What's all this about your father?"

Takumi then had a realization. "It can't be…" He looked at the young "man" in shock. "Yuugo…are you…?"

"All right, all right, all riiiight! That's enough!" Kishibe's voice echoed through the room. And it was then when Eaters started swarming Under Zero absorbing Mental Data left and right. Omnimon was able to stop the source, but the others were still under the threat of being overwhelmed until another Yuugo showed up and they left.

"What's going on?!" Takumi asked.

"What? No way! Yuugo?!" Nokia gasped.

"You're kidding me!" Arata gapped. "But Yuugo's right here!"

Yuugo approached his doppelganger. "That can't be… my brother?!" Shortly after that Yuugo was forced to log out. Takumi used his Connect Jump to give chase.

Then the images showed Yuuko in a strange room linked up to a machine. Rie Kishibi was in front of her. "Oh my, you're awake? Welcome home, Yuuko!"

Yuuko tried to move but alarmingly her wrists and ankles were clamped to the machine she was on. "M-Miss Rie?!"

A lot played out after that. Takumi appeared but some strange power sent him away. After regrouping with the others Omnimon explained the Royal Knights plans. They made a mission to stop Kishibe and rescue Yuuko. On their way, Takumi and Nokia ran into Fei and agreed to join forces. But by the time they reached Yuuko, the Paradise Lost Plan was put into motion. "Open, Door of Judgment!"

After connecting the two worlds Rie Kishibe revealed her true form. Crusadermon of the Royal Knights. After a brief struggle she departed to greet her comrades. Fortunately, Arata succeeded on his end closing the gate. But then Yuuko who was still trapped and helpless was attacked by an Eater and was turned into a monster. There was a brief fight, but the team hesitated, fearing they would destroy Yuuko with it. Then Takumi had an idea. "Eaters are digital entities… which means…" He walked up to the Eater. He reached his hand out. Nokia was shocked at the idea of Connect Jumping into an Eater. Fei begged him to do whatever he could to help Yuuko. Then her TigerVespamon responded to her feelings and accompanied Takumi as he Connect Jumped.

Inside he found what appeared to be Yuuko. "It's over… there's nothing else I can do…" Yuuko expressed her depression and negativity before disappearing. When Takumi found her again, she explained how her brother came down with EDEN Syndrome, how she lost her father, and how Rie convinced her to take up her brother's name in EDEN. "I thought I could lose myself and connect to my family at the same time… but it was all lies!" The third time… "I'm so lonely. I'm ridiculous and pathetic…"

"That's not true!" Takumi objected but she vanished again. Takumi then chased after her again.

"I didn't want to admit I was alone… But I've been alone for so long."

TiggerVespamon then appeared. "Yuuko, are most definitely not alone." The Digimon explained how it was thanks to Yuuko that she and Fei had each other. And that she had them. And furthermore… "Someone must have always been at your side. Even now…"

Yuuko turned around and saw Takumi smile at her. "Yuuko, if it weren't for you, I wouldn't have my Digimon by my side. I wouldn't be who I am now. And I'm thankful for that. You're my friend, and I'm always here to support you."

Yuuko finally smiled. "Yes… Takumi… I see. You're right…"

After a heartwarming talk Takumi found Yuuko sitting in a dark space. When she saw he reach out his hand she smiled and took it. Then they were back in the lab. Yuuko was free from the Eater. Then Takumi was taken somewhere where he spoke to Yuuko's brother Yuugo Kamishiro.

Then the scene showed Takumi approach Yuuko who had a Tokomon on her head. "Um… He seems to have taken a liking to me."

After Takumi and Yuuko reunited Tokomon and Lopmon Yuuko told Takumi her plans. "Bringing together humans with humans, Digimon with Digimon, and humans with Digimon! The new EDEN will be that kind of place. You'll see."

Takumi smiled. "I look forward to that."

Takumi and Guardromon came back to their relieved friends. "Oh, thank heavens." Tails sighed. "You sure had us worried Takumi."

Yuuko walked up to him. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah… thanks Yuuko. I… I knew deep down it wasn't real. I really did. Yet the thought of destroying a friend just…"

Yuuko sighed. "I'm sorry you had to go through that Takumi. For someone as kind and tender as you it… it couldn't have been easy. I'm very lucky you saved me back then."

"I'm just glad you came back." Takumi smiled.

Sonic grinned. "Takumi…you're a good guy. What you did that day was really brave."

"It sure was." Tails nodded. "That kind of courage you and Sonic have… You don't hesitate to help people."

Yuuko nodded. "Yeah…" She then thought quietly to herself. "I always thought Takumi was reckless to put himself in so much danger to help others… but I wonder if it's not really a matter of recklessness…but strength… strength that I lack…"

"…Yuuko? Hey, Yuuko!" Sonic snapped his fingers repeatedly.

"Wha- The girl snapped out of her trans. "What is it?"

"I was saying you were pulling one heck of a double act back there as the leader of Zaxon."

"Oh, well… thank you? To be honest though… I'm not too proud of running from myself like that."

"Well, don't worry. You acknowledge who you are now, that's what matters."

Yuuko smiled. "You're right. I'm done running from myself. And it's all thanks to Takumi. And the many other friends I'm blessed with."

"By the way Yuuko…" Takumi said. "I've been meaning to ask. Since Digimon never interacted with our world now, have you met Fei yet in our new reality?"

"I haven't heard from her since our battle, so I don't think that's the case. It makes sense though. Did you know that we originally met because she was part of another hacker team on a mission to get me?"

Takumi blinked. "Are…are you serious?"

Yuuko giggled and nodded. "But she was drawn into Zaxon and our ideals. Funny how that worked out, huh?"

"It's not that strange." Sonic said. "From Knuckles, to Shadow, to Gemrel, to Jet, even Silver, a lot of my friends started out as my enemies."

"I think it's amazing how you can make a friend out of an enemy like that Yuuko." Takumi smiled.

"Thanks, but I'm not nearly as good at getting through to others as you."

"I don't know if I'm that good at it. So, have you thought about trying to befriend Fei again? Even without Zaxon you two were good friends."

"I don't know…I'm just a stranger to her now."

"Then turn that stranger into a friend." Sonic smiled. "Can't be any harder then turning an enemy into a friend if you ask me."

"Arata's thinking about trying to talk to Ryuji again." Takumi said. "Even if things don't go back to the way they once were, they can be good again."

Yuuko smiled. "Maybe I should."

Guardromon flinched. "I feel… something building up within me." Takumi turned to him then looked at his Digivice. He made the inputs and the Digi-Orbs circled around Guardromon. "Guardromon Digivolve to…" First new arms broke through his armor. They were made of silver metal held together with wires. The right hand was silver, the left was black. Then new legs that matched. One had more armor then the other. Then the rest of his armor exploded showing the torso and head. They were of silver metal and had a skull-shaped helmet with red eyes. "Andromon!"

Takumi smiled at the Ultimate Level Digimon. "Great work as always partner."

"Wow!" Tails approached. "He looks like a cyborg now!"

"This form was made as a prototype for all Cyborg Digimon." Andromon explained. "It is organically based off of Boltmon with technology from MetalGreymon and Megadramon."

"Amazing! When this is over, do you mind if I do an analysis on your technology?"

"As you wish."

Takumi laughed. Then he noticed a red light shining in the distance. "Oh hey. Another Emerald." He looked at the map. "…But it looks like it's isolated on another island. How do we get to it?"

Sonic sighed as he folded his arms. "And you mentioned this Digimon can't fly. Bad timing to Digivolve."

"Unavoidable." Andromon replied. "This form is far stronger then Guardromon and we need strength to do what we need to do."

"I'm sure there's another way there." Tails said. "Oh! But first, we got to show you guys something!"

"Oh, that's right!" Yuuko said. "The reason we tried to call you two is because we found something. You might want to take a look. We also found another Portal on the way here."

"Lead the way." Takumi replied.

Sonic put another Gear into the Portal, and it activated. "Be back in a jiffy." He teleported into Cyber Space. Takumi and Andromon joined him.

Takumi and Andromon stood in a green cyberspace, face to face with a Machinedramon. "Whoa!" Takumi backed up. He looked behind it and saw a familiar white-haired boy. "Yuugo?! No wait…this must be…"

"The advanced AI created to allow Yuuko to lead Zaxon." Andromon said.

"This will be a real challenge." Takumi said. "Alright. Let's do this."

The Yuugo avatar got into a fighting stance as Machinedramon started moving. Andromon got into a fighting stance. The MachineDramon's drill arm started whirling. "Dragon Fire!" Its drill charged towards Andromon.

Andromon's right hand started spinning like a drill as well. They collided and their hands bounced off each other. They clashed a few more times before the impact of two powerful swings made them both slide back on their feet. Andromon's hand spun faster as it crackled with electricity. "Lightning Blade!" He swung a powerful blade of light into Machinedramon knocking it back. "Gatling Attack!" His chest plate opened up and he launched two missiles.

"Giga Destroyer!" Machinedramon shot his own chest-mounted missiles. They exploded as they collided. Andromon slid back scratching the floor with his hands and feet.

Then Machinedramon's clawed hand fired at him attached to a wire. "Andromon, look out!" Takumi shouted.

Andromon stood up and caught the claw. Then Machinedramon pulled it back in, and him with it before slamming his head into Andromon knocking him into the air. "Infinite Hand!" Its hand gathered energy and shot Andromon in mid-air. Andromon grunted as he landed.

"We're not going to beat him with brute force!" Takumi said.

"What do you propose then?"

Takumi thought for a moment. "We do what we did with that Clockmon and the Eater. We disable it one weapon at a time. Start with those cannons!"

"Understood." Andromon crouched.

"Giga Cannon!" Machinedramon fired his cannons, and Andromon then jumped over the shots and onto Machinedramon's back. The Digimon stumbled and still fired repeatedly. Andromon grabbed one of the cannons and turned it to point at the other, destroying it with the other cannon's shot. He then grunted and pulled on the cannon before ripping it right out. He jumped off of Machinedramon. And turned around. His chest plate opened, and more missiles were ready to launch. Machinedramon turned around and prepared his own attack. "Giga Destroyer!"

Andromon let Machinedramon shoot first and leaned back under the attack then straightened up. "Gatling Attack!" He sent his missiles right into the inserts on Machinedramon's chest blowing them up. The Digimon started making odd noises. It then aimed its claw and shot it.

"Cut that wire!" Takumi ordered. Andromon batted the hand upward then sliced the wire connecting it with his hand. With only one attack option left, Machinedramon's drill hand spun, and he stomped towards Andromon. Andromon caught the drill with his hands. There was a grinding sound and Andromon gritted his teeth until the drill came to a halt. "Good! Now finish him off!"

Andromon roared as he lifted Machinedramon off the ground and threw him into the air. His chest opened up again. "Gatling Missile Rensha Mode!" He fired a rapid-fire flurry of orange missiles that bombarded Machinedramon. Chunks of metal flew off him before he was completely destroyed.

Takumi looked at the copy of Yuugo. It smiled at him before disappearing leaving some Digi-Orbs behind. He picked them up and looked towards the portal. He closed his eyes. "Thank you Yuugo. It was thanks to you I met Tarriermon, Palmon, Hagurumon and Yuuko again after the EDEN Demo. And Yuuko and I became stronger because of you."

Sonic curved around a swerving path in Green Hill. "Kinda reminds me of where we found Babylon Garden. Yeah, I wonder what Jet's up to." He boosted through boxes collecting a Red Star Ring and ran into the portal.

The first thing the visions showed was Yuuko taking Takumi to visit her comatose brother Yuugo Kamishiro. She talked about how Takumi communicating with Yuugo made her realize how her brother's condition was truly not normal. "I will find the cause of EDEN Syndrome, to protect EDEN and save my brother. And I'll find a way to restore your body to you. I'm sure of it, Takumi."

Then Yuuko helped Takumi with his case on Yamashina. They took him to the Roppongi Underground Lab where they restored his memories. He then told him how in a EDEN Demo event, five children mysteriously vanished. Only four returned. The other was the first victim of EDEN Syndrome. Suedou erased the memories of those children and then Yamashina for their sake. The man then asked Yuuko and Takumi to erase those memories once more.

Yuuko and Takumi watched Yamashina reunite with his daughter. "Was this the right thing to do?" Yuuko asked.

Takumi thought about it before replying. "I don't know. There's no good answer for that." Yuuko went quiet. Takumi then looked at them man and his relieved daughter. "But…I'm sure it will work out one way or another."

Then the visions showed Takumi meeting Yuuko in her brother's room again. "Thank you for taking on this case."

"Anytime. What's up?"

"To be honest… I'm thinking of just deleting my "Yuugo" avatar…"

"What?! Why?"

Yuuko proceeded to explain how she got the avatar form Rie and after what happened in Under Zero, she realized that Rie was using that avatar to manipulate her and Zaxon. And so, she decided to destroy it. Even if it felt like losing a connection to her brother. "Could you please be there to witness the last moments of "Yuugo of the Zaxons"…That's my case for you." Takumi nodded. "Thank you."

But when she tried to delete it, nothing happened. Takumi then explained how he heard people say they say that avatar was seen in EDEN despite Yuuko not using it since the Under Zero Incident.

"Takumi, I'm changing the goal of the case…We need to go find the one responsible for hacking the Yuugo account!"

After meeting up in Kawloon again Yuuko got a message from "Yuugo" telling her to meet him in the place he was "born". Avalon Server."

There Takumi and Yuuko found the white-haired avatar. "We finally found you." Yuuko said. "Who are you?"

The avatar turned around. "I am "Yuugo", leader of the Zaxons." Yuugo proceeded to explain that Rie put a A.I. in the avatar to control Yuuko while she used it. And it was what allowed her to act as the leader of Zaxon. "You and I have been partners all these years… And yet…why would you try to erase me?"

Yuuko then told him why she relied on him. But now she had to stand up on her own. Without relying on him. Then Machinedramon appeared by Yuugo's side. "Ma…Machinedramon…! Why? You're my Digimon!"

"Machinedramon and I fight together. It seems he still sees me as "Yuugo"." RizeGreymon then appeared by Yuuko's side. "RizeGreymon… It seems he's chosen you. But can you beat me, I wonder? Without me, you can't talk to your companions…" Yuuko looked down. "Please, don't misunderstand, I don't want to hurt you, but…I just don't want to be deleted."

"You're wrong!"

Yuuko then noticed someone step in front of her. "Takumi!"

"Me, Nokia, Arata, Fei, Yuuko has plenty of people she can talk to! She doesn't need a special avatar or to be the head of some legendary hacker team to have us as friends!"

"I see… so you've made you choice." Yuugo said.

After a fierce battle, Machinedramon was defeated. Yuugo just stood there. "I see… I suppose I have to disappear, then."

Yuuko shook her head. "…No. I won't delete you. The real me is still in here…"

"I see." Yuugo smiled. "In that case…" In a bright light, he disappeared.

"…RizeGreymon, I'm no longer "Yuugo," but will you still stay with me?"

RizeGreymon started to glow. "RizeGreymon Digivolve too…" Fire engulfed him and he emerged in a new body. One of red and black armor, silver hair and two massive katanas. "Gaiomon!" He basked in his new form and power before kneeling to Yuuko. "This is my answer. My new form symbolizes my resolve to fight at your side."

"Well…Thanks." Yuuko smiled. "You Digivolved, and you have a different body than before. I'm happy for you, but…I miss your old form a little bit…" She smiled to Takumi. "The case is closed. Thank you."

Takumi and Sonic reappeared in front of the Gate. Sonic collected his keys. "Well…that was…exciting."

Takumi looked at Yuuko. "Are you okay?"

"I told you, I'm not going to cry over that."

"I know. I also know why you had to face that avatar. Still…part of me is grateful for it. If it weren't for Yuugo and Zaxon, I wouldn't have my Digimon. My family."

Yuuko smiled faintly. "I feel the same. That's how you and I met. …Well, for the second time anyway."

"Yeah."

Sonic turned to Tails. "So anyway, what was it you wanted to show us?"

"Oh, right! This way!" Tails ran ahead.

ChaosGallantmon was looming over the island high above. It watched it, as if waiting for something. Then the floating girl appeared behind it. She held her hand towards him as it emitted red light. ChaosGallantmon groaned in discomfort before turning around to look at her. He charged at the girl with his lance, but she disappeared. The fallen knight looked around for her, but then the Titan appeared behind him. He turned around and stood ready for battle. Inside the Titan the masked man floated inside its network with three screens in front of him. "Okay… Got perfect control over this guy. Let's hope it's enough."

The girl floated next to the Titan. "I will accelerate your link with the Titan to improve its reaction speed."

"Okay. Not my first fight with a Royal Knight. Let's do this Sage!" He clenched his fist and the Titan's shield started to spin. ChaosGallantmon charged towards it.

Sonic, Tails, Yuuko, Takumi and Andromon stood before a giant white and black robot that was in pieces. "Wow…what is this?" Takumi asked. "It looks different from the rest of the Ancient's technology…"

"According to Tails, this doesn't belong to the Ancients." Yuuko said.

"Huh?"

Sonic folded his arms. "He's right."

Tails turned to them. "It's an Assault-Model Death Egg Robot! And it looks pretty entrenched."

"So, this is that Eggman guy's work?" Takumi asked. "We should investigate." Everyone nodded.

Sonic whistled as they all walked around. "You don't see something like this every day. These things are tough to take down, even for me."

"Who do you think did this to it? That ghost-girl and her masked friend?"

"Probable." Andromon replied. "Judging from the heat and speed of the bladed shield, the Titan could cut through the robot's reinforced armor easily. Or perhaps it was ChaosGallantmon."

"Yeah, those Titans and Knights can wreck an army of Death Egg Robots." Sonic replied.

Yuuko pointed ahead. "Look! Over there!"

Everyone hurried up a platform to a computer of some sort. "A remote control panel." Tails said looking at it. "It's still online!"

"Good find Yuuko." Takumi said. "Think we can access it?"

"I would if I could…" Yuuko tried to touch the keypad, but her finger went through. "But I can't even touch it."

Takumi walked in front of it. "Well…Without the Connect Jump I'm not as good at hacking as you. But I did learn a few things from Kyoko and Arata. If you and Tails can walk me through it, I might be able to get us in."

"Good idea."

"I'll help." Andromon looked at the computer and his eyes glowed red.

"Let's see what Eggman was trying to do with this thing." Sonic said. "If it goes bad, you can shut it off."

Yuuko and Tails spent a few minutes giving Takumi instructions who started typing. After the first minute Sonic got bored and started pacing. After another five minutes he was starting to get impatient. Then right when he was about to question how long this was going to take… "Got it!" Takumi said. "We're in. So, what now?"

Yuuko looked at the screen. "It looks like it's command was interrupted when it was destroyed… Try resuming the program."

"Okay, here goes." Takumi typed in the computer.

The head of the robot lifted and its eye glowed before shooting a red laser ripping apart the rubble in front of them. Everyone walked over to see a tunnel leading underground. "Woo! That did the trick!" Sonic grinned.

"Yup! It revealed a subterranean pathway!" Tails nodded.

Yuuko smiled at Takumi. "You handled this pretty well for someone who claims to still be learning how to hack."

"Like I said, Arata and Kyoko have been teaching me." Takumi glanced at the tunnel. "I needed to learn what I could. I'm…I'm not a very effective Cyber Sleuth anymore without Digimon and the Connect Jump. I don't want to go back to being a nobody who couldn't do anything…"

Andromon gasped. "Takumi!"

Yuuko looked at him in shock. "Is…is that how you felt after we parted with Digimon and you went back into your real body?"

Takumi reacted as if he had just realized he said what he did out loud. "I-it's nothing, don't worry about it. Anyway, Sonic, Andromon, let's check out this tunnel while Yuuko and Tails explore some more of the island. Maybe it leads to the Emerald."

"Be careful." Tails said. "Whatever took out that super badnick might still be lurking around."

"I hear that." Sonic replied. "Thanks, you two! Takumi and I'll see you later."

Yuuko and Tails watched their friends run down the tunnel. Tails then turned to Yuuko. "Yuuko… I think I can see now after that last vision, why it was so hard to hear all that back in Cyber Space from him." Yuuko looked away. "But you saw yourself that Yuugo is gone. There's no way that could have been him, it must have been a copy Cyber Space made from your mind."

Yuuko glared at him. "You think I don't know that?! I've already moved on, so don't start bringing it up!" Tails yelped at her outburst, and she claimed herself after seeing how much she frightened him. "S-sorry… I didn't mean to…"

"It's fine…Maybe I shouldn't have said anything." The two stayed in awkward silence then heard a clash and looked behind them at the sky. Flashing lights appeared in the sky. "Whoa! What's happening up there?!" Tails asked.

Yuuko started as sounds of metal violently lashing came from the sky. Purple light flashed like thunder. "Is someone fighting up there? But who? Takumi and Sonic just went underground!"

"I bet it was those two that attacked them with the Titan!" Tails replied. "But who are they fighting up there if not Sonic and Takumi?"

ChaosGallantmon backed away then ascended as the Titan threw its shield at him again. His lance glowed. "Demons Disaster!" He swung it repeatedly sending a stream of dark waves at the Titan. He then charged into it. "Gallant Charge!"

The Titan was slowly pushed back. As the shield came back, ChaosGallantmon jumped away. The masked man's voice groaned from inside it. "Ugh…this isn't working! How am I supposed to fight this thing with just a shield?!"

The girl looked at him. "Why don't you use the Titan's sword?"

"This thing has a sword? I didn't see a sword!"

"It is located on the Titan's forehead."

"Huh?" The masked man had the Titian feel out it's forehead with its left hand and felt the point on the forehead. "Wait…" The Titan gripped it and pulled out a long metal wire with chunks of metal that combined into a blade. "I thought that was a horn!" He groaned in exasperation. "The Ancients' designs are weird." ChaosGallantmon came at him again. "Whoa!" The Titan blocked the lance with the shield then pushed it away. It then swung the blade. ChaosGallantmon blocked it with his own shield but was still bashed downward into the clouds.

It ascended over them again and came towards the Titan. The points painted on his shield glowed purple one by one. "Shield Attack!" The Titan blocked a powerful blast of light with its own shield before throwing it back at the knight. It flew up. Then the sword came down again. It flew to the side.

"Gotchya!" The Titan's right hand swooped in and grabbed ChaosGallantmon. It then put its sword back so it could hold the struggling knight in both hands. "Sage, now!"

The girl appeared in front of ChaosGallantmon who's head was sticking out. She held her hand in front of it and it stopped moving. "Done. I froze it."

"Nice job Sage! I still can't believe you replicated the program Yuugo used on Phantomon just from watching it from my memories!"

"It is Yuugo-or rather Yuuko's program that earns the praise. The Digimon is conscious, but it cannot do anything."

"So, do you think you can control it?"

"I am not sure. I will need time to analyze it then run simulations on every scenario. Until then we had best keep it in the Titan's grasp and hide them both somewhere."

The masked man thought for a moment. "Oh! I think I saw the perfect hiding place earlier!"

"Very good." Sage looked at the Titan.

Inside it, the masked man noticed her staring through his screen. "Huh? Something wrong?"

"You have been an invaluable asset with my mission. Thank you."

"Oh. Uh, sure no problem. And you can count on me so long as I can get to the Digital World."

"You wish to see someone there…"

"More than that. I want to bring her back. To her family. To OUR family."

"This drive for your "family"… Is that what motivates you to work as hard as you do?"

"Of course."

"So, it is essentially your function."

"Eh, I wouldn't call it that. We humans don't live by "functions". We live by our desires. In my case, it's to help the people I care about, to be with those I love. That's what gives me the power to do whatever it is I have to do. It's how miracles are born."

The girl thought to herself. "Love"…creates "miracles"…? On the topic of "family" you have brothers, correct?"

"Well…yeah. We're not related by blood, but… they're still family to me. Why?"

The girl looked up. "When this is over, fa… the Doctor told me I would meet Orbot and Cubot…my brothers. How should I act towards them?"

The man smiled under his mask. "Heh. There's no need to think too hard on that Sage. Just be yourself. Family accepts each other for who they are."

The girl looked at her hand and smiled. "Very well."