Chaos Island is almost complete folks. But before we get to the boss fight we have just a bit more to cover...
Sonic, Tails, Takumi, Yuuko and HiAndromon walked towards the volcano. They came across a door. "This is what you wanted to show us?" Takumi asked.
Tails nodded. "Yuuko and I have been studying this door while you and Sonic were exploring the island."
"We think it might have unlocked from the inside." Yuuko added.
"Great." Sonic replied. "So how do we open it?"
Tails pointed to something nearby. "See that switch next to the door? I think it'll react to the Cyber Energy stored in your body. There's no telling what's on the other side."
"But I imagine it must be important." Yuuko replied. "Make sure you're ready for anything."
"Got it." Takumi replied. "Care to do the honors, Sonic?"
"With pleasure." Sonic walked up and held his hand against the device. The door flashed blue and slowly opened up. "Well detective, ready to do a little investigating?"
Takumi smiled. "Always. Let's see what's hidden here." Everyone started walking towards the cave.
"Yuuko! Takumi! Wait!"
They paused and looked behind them. The masked man was approaching. "You again?" Sonic sighed. "This is starting to get old."
"Listen to me!" the man said. "You can't keep going like this. You're setting yourselves up for your own downfall!"
Takumi shook his head. "Okay, I've had enough of this. You keep saying grim stuff like that and don't include any actual details. Can you just stop hiding all these secrets already and give us some proper answers? Just who are you? And why are you in this world? What's this promise you made and what does it have to do with interfering with us constantly?"
The man stood quietly in front of them. "Alright. I suppose I've been hiding long enough." His hand slowly reached for his mask. "But I think you've been holding some pretty big secrets yourself…" Part way through that sentence the voice filter faded as he removed his mask and lowered it from his face showing his blank expression with his black hair and eyes. "…Cyber Sleuth."
Everyone stared at him in shock. "You're…!" Yuuko gasped.
Sonic remembered seeing this face in visions provided by Takumi's friends. "Wait…isn't that…!"
"It can't be…" HiAndromon recognized it as well.
Takumi took a step back in shock. "…Keisuke…?" Silence took over. "…How…that's…!"
Keisuke Amasawa glanced aside. "…This isn't how I wanted things to go. I… I don't want to be your enemy."
"Keisuke…what are you doing here?!" Yuuko asked.
The teen took a deep breath. "…It all started a couple days ago. Your father Saturo Kamishiro hired my team, Hudie to investigate an anomaly in EDEN."
"My father?"
"Ryuji sent me to investigate…I met someone there. Someone from this world."
"Wait, is it that girl that we saw with you?" Sonic asked.
"She wanted my help…and after she ran a scan of my Mental Data, she figured she and her father could in turn help me."
"Help you with what?" Tails asked.
Keisuke looked at Takumi. "Takumi…I had no idea you were deeply involved with what happened in our world until we…you know."
"Had me pinned to the ground by robots so you could see through my mind?" Takumi asked.
"I'm sorry. I just…after I overheard you and Nokia talking about the Digital World, I knew you had to be like me. Someone who remembers what happened. As soon as I knew, I felt this was my chance to finally get some answers." Keisuke looked up at him. "I know your side of the story. And now…" He pulled up a blue monitor and started typing. "It's time you knew mine." A shinning white doorway appeared in front of him. "Step in here."
"What…is that?" HiAndromon asked.
"My memories. My story. It will answer all of your questions."
Sonic squinted at him. "Sure. And how do we know this isn't a trap?"
"I guess you don't."
Yuuko stepped towards the light. Takumi looked at her. "Yuuko?"
Yuuko turned to them. "Keisuke isn't the kind of person to trick people like this. There must be a reason why he wants to show us this. Trust me."
Takumi nodded. "Okay." He and his Digimon followed her. Tails and Sonic looked at each other before they followed as well. One by one they stepped into the glowing doorway.
Inside A flood of memories flashed before them. It all started with Keisuke's EDEN account being hacked and him getting expelled from school under suspicions of being a hacker. Then someone named K contacted him claiming he knew the culprit leading him to go to EDEN. They saw Keisuke talking to his best friend Yu in the café and Nanako Broadway. "…So, you're really going through with this?"
"I don't really have a choice here."
Keisuke went alone to the Digimon black market. Where he first saw a Tentomon a Gotsumon and a Betamon cowering in a cage. He tried to stand up for them only for the seller to attack him with an Ogermon and a Devimon. But then a Cyberdramon intervened. "…What's all the ruckus about?" That was how Keisuke meet Ryuji Mishima. After helping him save the Digimon the hacker heard Keisuke's story and offered to help him. After passing a test and K's lead proved false, Keisuke was welcomed into Hudie.
He entered a room that said VIP and saw someone working on a keypad shaped like an animal. She looked at him in shock "How dare you…enter my room…without permission!"
After getting wacked repeatedly by Erika Mishima, Keisuke noticed Ryuji entered the room next. With Chitose Imai. "Hey, good job out there! Sounds like you had a rough time of it."
The team showed Keisuke the ropes as he ventured though Tokyo and EDEN learning new things. Then while investigating Kawloon with Erika he stumbled upon the DigiLab. "…How puzzling. Did someone guide you to this place?"
He met Mirei who offered her assistance thought his adventure. Shortly after he and Erika saw a Wormmon being attacked by a Waspmon. The two of them rescued it. "I'm Wormmon! Nice to meetcha!"
Many things occurred. And they watched them all. Such as how Keisuke met Yuuko, Arata and Nokia. The jobs he took as part of Hudie. Discovering Erika's illness and Ryuji's involvement with Kamishiro. Keisuke's involvement with events such as Jimmy Ken and Under Zero. Including Chitose getting EDEN Syndrome. The Paradise Lost Plan. Ryuji becoming corrupted by Arcadiamon. How Hudie collapsed. How K turned out to be Yu, controlled by a Digimon in the mask he wore. How Keisuke and Erika got Chitose back. Rescuing Ryuji from Arcadiamon. Erika being assimilated by Eaters. Keisuke and his team going to rescue her in EDEN with the assistance of Yu and the hackers he brought. And then near the end…. Keisuke stood before a humanoid Digimon with butterfly wings. "Wormmon? Erika? What are you?"
"I'm Hudiemon. Something new…formed from Erika and Wormmon."
Together Hudie had an intense final battle against the Eaters. And it was then when Hudiemon learned of Takumi and his friends defeating the Mother Eater and changing reality. "I'm happy you came to save me. What I am now is a miracle that we created. Whatever happens from now on, don't forget that. Now…I must say goodbye."
"Good…bye…?" Keisuke shivered.
"But…" Chitose flinched. He then glowed blue and disappeared.
Ryuji glowed next. "Erika! Wait!"
Keisuke noticed his body started glowing. Hudiemon looked at him. "I love you all."
"ERIKA!" Keisuke grabbed Hudiemon's hand before light engulfed him. Next thing Keisuke knew he was in the void between worlds. "Where am I?" He then saw someone in front of him. "Erkia?"
"Couldn't you have just said goodbye?" Erika and Wormmon then took turns explaining why they had to return to the Digital World. Why they didn't want this miracle they created to be gone. "I wish I could go back to Hudie and be with you, Keisuke and Chitose, and my brother. But…I won't have long to live if I go back to the real world. That would just be a heavy burden for my brother…for all of you."
"Don't worry about that!" Keisuke shouted desperately. "You've been suffering this whole time… Come back for me!"
"I'm sorry. I don't want anyone else to suffer because of me." Hudiemon also explained how she didn't want to lose the memories of this miracle she created with everyone. And her desire to go the Digital World and discover new things. "This is my only chance to do that, so… So…will you see me off?"
Keisuke stood silently before shaking his head. "No…That's not enough."
"Not enough? What else is there?"
Keisuke smiled and turned around. In a bright flash a PileVolcamon, a MetalSeadramon and a TyrantKabuterimon appeared. "This is your team now."
"You want me to take them with me?" Hudiemon asked. Keisuke nodded. Then a Justimon and a Shakkoumon aproached. "My brother and Chitose's Digimon! Did they follow you here?" The Digimon surrounded Hudiemon. "Hahaha! So, this is the birth of a new Hudie? Looks like we're the new Vanguard responsible for protecting the Digital World. Well, I never saw that coming, hehe!"
Keisuke laughed. Then he felt something pulling him away. "What's happening?"
"It's time." Hudiemon transformed back into Erika and smiled at Keisuke. "Tell my brother and Chitose I'll miss them." Wormmon was next to her. "Even after this world's changed, it will be connected to the Digital World, so…" The two became Hudiemon again. "I'm sure we'll meet again."
"Goodbye everyone… Goodbye Erika…" Keisuke said as warm tears came down.
As she and Keisuke were pulled apart Hudiemon turned to her new team. "Let's go to our world."
The last thing they saw was Keisuke going to Hudie to meet Ryuji and Chitose now accompanied by Yu. Ryuji got a job at Kamishiro and the boys decided to celebrate. But before Keisuke left to join them, he spotted the room in the back. He opened it and saw Erika's room now a storage room. A single tear fell from his face before he looked down. "…I'll never forget you…"
The visions ended and they were all back on the island in front of Keisuke. All of them were shocked beyond words. Sonic and Tails looked at each other. HiAndromon clutched his fists. Yuuko held her hands over her mouth. "Keisuke…" Takumi murmured. "…You…"
Keisuke sighed as he felt a weight lifted off his chest. "Before you guys ask, no, I'm not K." he said looking at his attire that was ironically designed after what his friend used and staring at the mask in his hand before tossing it aside. "This isn't even the same mask. I just…didn't want to complicate things by you guys knowing who I was. But the more I think of it...maybe I should have told you from the beginning."
"So then…Erika…" Yuuko whispered. "Is she…?"
"Still in the Digital World." Keisuke said. "As Hudiemon."
"Keisuke, I…I had no idea…" Takumi frowned.
"I guess because I was between worlds while everything changed because of you I didn't lose my memories like everyone else." Keisuke looked down. "But Ryuji…Chitose…none of them even remember Erika. As the days passed… this loneliness and heartache only grew. For Erika and her life to be completely forgotten… for everything she did for us to be lost… I had to keep all this to myself day after day because I knew nobody would believe me. The worst part was I couldn't give Ryuji and Chitose Erika's final message. I would still dream of her and my Digimon. The things we had together… This pain and burden would be mine and mine alone to bear forever…or so I thought." He looked up to Takumi. "And then I saw you in this world with a Digimon. And you and Nokia spoke of the Digital World. And then…I found out that you were the chosen ones Erika spoke of."
"And how we were the ones who changed our worlds…" Yuuko said.
Takumi quivered. "…And tore Erika from you and forced you to spend your days suffering in silence…Keisuke…I…I'm so sorry…"
"What? No! No, it's okay!" Keisuke said. "It's not your fault! You were trying to protect our world! You just made a choice you felt you had to! Just like Erika did."
Everyone went silent again before Yuuko spoke up. "Keisuke…why tell us this now?"
"I've been listening in to Takumi's conversations with you, Arata and Nokia. I…I miss Digimon. Erika, Tentomon, Gotsumon, Betamon, they were all family to me! Not a day goes by when I wished I could be with them again! Takumi, you, me, Yuuko, Arata, Nokia, we all want the same thing! For humans and Digimon to have a second chance to come together again! We want to reunite with the ones we love!"
"Keisuke…what are you trying say?" Takumi asked.
Keisuke stared into Takumi's eyes and slowly lifted his arm, offering a hand towards him. "Takumi…Yuuko…come with me."
"Where?"
"To meet Dr. Eggman."
Everyone gasped. "…I knew it." Sonic glared. "Where is that guy hiding?"
"Right now, he's trapped in Cyber Space. Sage and I have been working on a way to get him out safely."
"Sage"?" HiAndromon asked. "Is that the name of the girl we saw with you?"
"Keisuke, just who or what is she?" Yuuko asked.
"Sage is an artificial intelligence created by the Doctor to help him with his expedition of Starfall Islands."
Tails gapped. "An A.I.?! I've never seen one so lifelike!"
"So, she's like the Yuugo Avatar then?" Yuuko asked.
"She wasn't different from your average A.I. at first." Keisuke explained. "But when Eggman tried to use her to access Cyber Space, she…evolved in a way. Her capabilities vastly enhanced."
"Was she the one you met in EDEN?" Takumi asked.
Keisuke nodded. "She was searching for a way to help Eggman when she somehow made a link between Cyber Space and EDEN. That's when she met me and told me of Eggman. Guys, I met him myself. He's a genius! And he's traveled to alternate dimensions before! When Sage showed me her father's work, I knew he could be the one to find a way to safely unite the Digital World and our world once more! So, we made a deal. If I help him escape Cyber Space and lend Sage a hand with the expedition, he'll get us to the Digital World! Takumi, Yuuko, if you, Nokia, and Arata back us up, we can free him to make our dreams come true in no time!"
Sonic scoffed. "Yeah, right pal. And did this Sage show you Eggman's work in conquering this world?"
"Conquering"?" Keisuke asked. "What are you babbling about?"
"I'm gonna take that as a no. Go figure they'd hide that jerk's true intentions from you."
"Eggman has hatched scheme after scheme to conquer this world and take away everyone's freedom!" Tails added.
Sonic pointed at Keisuke. "I'll admit that guy's got brains but he's also an egotistic maniac who ruins lives! I'll tell you right now, there's no way he's going to keep his end of the bargain!"
Keisuke glared back and folded his arms. "Funny. He and Sage told me a number of shady things about you Sonic the Hedgehog!"
Sonic raised an eyebrow. "Pardon?"
"They told me all Eggman wanted was to create Eggmanland, a utopia where everyone can be happy! And that every time he tires you stomp on his plans just to show off how "incredibly cool" you are! All the man ever wanted was to help people through the power of science and you crush his dreams day after day for your ego!"
"What?" Takumi gasped.
"Well, he's lying!" Tails yelled.
Keisuke turned back to Takumi. "Takumi, listen. When I scanned your Mental Data, I didn't just see your memories. I felt your emotions during your adventure. How much you connected to the Digimon you met and befriended. Like Alphamon and all those Digimon you helped. Think about it. The many friends you made…this is your chance to see them again and continue helping them as the Cyber Sleuth they all looked up to! You can't just turn your back on them, can you? They're your friends! And Yuuko, your father wanted to make EDEN a place that brings people together. This is your chance to make his dream a reality too! Please…I'm not just asking for me and Erika, but for all the Digimon and humans that bounded in our previous reality. Join us. Together with the Doctor and Sage, we'll make a world where humans and Digimon can live together in peace!"
Everyone stayed quiet. "Keisuke…" Takumi murmured. "I…"
"Takumi don't listen to him!" Tails shouted. "Eggman will betray you! I know it!"
"Tails…" Sonic turned to him. "Don't."
"But Sonic-
"Takumi and Yuuko have reason to believe Keisuke as well. We can't do anything to change that. They need to make their own choice. We already told them our side of the story, so we can't do anything more then let them choose who and what they want to believe."
Takumi looked at the hedgehog. "…Sonic…" He groaned squeezing his eyes shut and clenching his fists. No matter what choice he made he was going to have to fight someone he respected. "What do I…what do I do?!"
"Takumi." Yuuko walked up to him. "You chose what we do."
"Yuuko?"
"Like Sonic said we do have reason to trust Keisuke. Just as we have trusted him and Tails thus far. I…I myself don't know what to do…but you never strayed from the right path unlike me. I trust your judgment more than I do my own. Tell me what side you're on and I will back you up…as your friend."
"Takumi, I too will abide to whatever choice you make." HiAndromon said. "You are my partner and my brother. Wherever you chose to go, I will follow."
"Yuuko…HiAndromon…" Takumi looked down gritting his teeth. Everyone stared at him waiting for his response.
"Friends help each other when things get rough, otherwise they'll regret it."
"Mom, I…" Takumi looked up and took a deep breath. "Keisuke…you're right. I…I can't turn my back on my friends."
Keisuke smiled. "Takumi…! I knew it! I knew I could count on you."
Tails looked at him sadly. "Takumi…" Sonic closed his eyes.
Takumi clenched his fists again. "And that's why… That's why I refuse to abandon Sonic and the others! I've come this far thanks to them!" Keisuke's smile faded. "I'm sorry Keisuke, but…I can't join you. Not after I've come this close to the end. If we defeat the last Titan, then we can restore Yuuko and the others. And if we destroy the last fallen Royal Knight, I can free Alphamon from her impressment."
"Fallen Royal Knight?" Keisuke asked. "Are those the dark looking Digimon that you were fighting?"
"That's right. They're Royal Knights from an older generation corrupted by a Digimon named Bargramon. They were sealed here on these islands until the systems were activated. And now I know who did it. Eggman."
Keisuke sighed. "So that's what's going on. Takumi… you have no idea what's happening to you right now, do you? When you destroyed the last two Digimon, their data went into you, merging with your Mental Data."
"What?" Yuuko gasped. "That's what's happening to him?"
Keisuke looked Takumi in the eye. "Sage ran simulations on it. Do you know what will happen if you try to take on any more of that data?"
"Enlighten me." Takumi said, folding his arms.
"Sage predicts that the dark force in the data, likely this Bagramon will corrupt your Mental Data." Keisuke held his hand out. "You're very consciousness will be destroyed." Everyone was shocked. "See what I'm saying? You'll essentially be an EDEN Syndrome victim once again. Only this time, there will be no way to restore you like Alphamon did before."
Sonic turned to Takumi. "Takumi will…?"
Yuuko put her hands over her mouth. "No…!"
"Get it now?" Keisuke asked. "You can't continue this. It's a miracle your Mental Data is still holding on. Following Sonic will just lead you to your demise! Yuuko, Arata, Nokia, Kyoko, your Digimon, they all value you deeply! Are you going to just break their hearts?! I know what that pain is like! Don't make them all suffer like I have!"
Takumi shook his head. "No. I don't care what some simulation says."
"Takumi!"
"I will be the master of my own future! I'll keep fighting for the ones I love and we're going to bring humans and Digimon together my own way! Besides, I trust Mirei, she wouldn't have sent me to this world to destroy the fallen knights without some warning if it was going to kill me!"
Keisuke blinked. "Mirei? She's the one who sent you to this world? But why would- Something started vibrating in his coat pocket. He took out the visor that was his Digivice and put it on. "Sage, what is it?"
In the visor he saw a monitor showing the girl with something Keisuke hadn't seen from her before. A panicked expression. "Keisuke, I can't find fath… I lost the Doctor!"
"What? What do you mean lost him?!"
"He disappeared into some new area of Cyber Space! I-I don't know where!"
Keisuke gritted his teeth. "Just keep looking, I'm on my way!"
"Havin a little doctor trouble?" Sonic asked as Keisuke took his visor off.
The teenager opened a monitor and held a hand behind him. A blue gateway appeared behind him. "…Takumi…think about what I said." He pressed something and his clothes changed. He was now wearing his Hudie jacket. He pointed to Takumi with a stern expression. "This is my final warning. Stay away from the fallen Royal Knight and that last Titan. None of us are going to like what will happen if you force my hand." He turned around and walked into the light.
Takumi watched him vanish. "Keisuke…"
From the top of a nearby structure Mirei was watching. "Him again? Tch. This could be a nuisance."
"Takumi…" Sonic walked up to him. "Are you sure you're okay with this?"
"I am." Takumi turned to him. "You're my friend too Sonic. Besides, we've come too far for me to turn back now."
"And you're okay with fighting Keisuke?" Tails asked.
"Of course not. But I'll be fighting someone I care about regardless of which choice I make. All I can do is what I believe is right." He looked at Yuuko and HiAndromon. "What about you two? I appreciate you both believe in me, but…it feels unfair for me to choose for you guys."
"My answer will not change." HiAndromon said. "I am on your side. Now and forever."
Yuuko shook her head. "I trust Keisuke, Takumi. I still do. But…I trust you even more. However…" She looked down. "What if…what if what he's saying is true?"
"About Eggman?" Takumi asked.
"No! About what will happen to you! Those headaches you've been having, the fact that data from the fallen Royal Knights flows into you whenever you defeat one! What if it does destroy your mental data?!"
"It'll be fine." Takumi smiled. "It wouldn't be the first time it happened to me, remember? Last time my mental data was dispersed Alphamon and the others-
"You got LUCKY last time!" Yuuko yelled. "How much longer will you continue to tempt fate like this?!"
"I must agree." HiAndromon said. "It was a miracle that we were able to save you last time. What if the next time we aren't so fortunate?"
"Guys, I-
Yuuko interrupted Takumi. "After what happened…when you vanished before our eyes before we got home without you…it crushed all of us! My brother finally woke up only for you to be the one stuck in a comma! All we could do was watch and hope! Do you have any idea how painful it was for us?!" she asked with her voice cracking. "If you never returned I…we would never would have been able to live with ourselves!"
"Yuuko…"
"I can't bear having anyone else I care about being torn from me again! Takumi, promise me no matter what all of us will go back together this time! Promise me right now you won't make us wait for you to come home again!"
"Yuuko, even if I-
"PROMISE ME!"
Takumi was thrown aback when Yuuko screamed at him. Her eyes were wide and looked upset. But what shocked Takumi was how they were shaking with tears watering up in them. Seeing this, what choice did he have? "…Okay. I promise."
"Good." Yuuko deflated. "I'm holding you to that."
Sonic walked over. "Don't worry Yuuko. I won't let anything happen to Takumi. He's my friend too and Sonic the Hedgehog doesn't leave friends behind."
"Thank you."
"Everything will work out Yuuko. One way or another." Tails said.
HiAndromon looked towards the cave. "Now then, let us proceed."
"Right." Sonic led the team inside the cave. As they entered the volcano, they could see lava flowing below. A strange device was in front of them. Sonic looked at it then looked up in front of them. "Wow…"
"What is it?" Takumi asked before looking in front of him. "…You've gotta be kidding me."
Tails and Yuuko stared at a massive table floating in front of them. It had rings bumpers and twin paddles in a very familiar design. "Is this…" Tails muttered.
"A giant pinball table?" Yuuko asked. "Why is something like this…"
Sonic walked up to the device and held his hand towards the giant purple button. A blue circle and triangle glowed on it. "Alright. Let's play!"
Eggman was running for dear life in a dark blue area. He found a blue block and hid behind it. A Ravemon, a Goldramon, a Crowmon and a Triceramon all aproached and looked around before turning back. Once they left the doctor exhaled. A blue doorway opened nearby making him panic until he saw Sage fly out of it and Keisuke following suit. "Doctor, are you alright?" Sage asked.
"I've been better." Eggman replied looking around. "I was just analyzing Cyber Space and found some strange form of data. I tried to access it, next thing I knew I was here."
Keisuke looked around. "Wait…this is…Under Kawloon Level 5!"
"I had a feeling it had something to do with your world." Eggman said. "I've been on the run from Digimon prowling around here."
"What? But Digimon left our world entirely."
"Calculating…" Sage put a hand at her chin. "A likely scenario is Cyber Space replicated this area from your memories."
"So, these aren't real Digimon then?" Keisuke asked.
"Unlikely."
"Interesting…" Eggman said. "I saw Digimon through both your memories and Takumi Aiba's but this is my first time seeing them up close. It's true their design and mannerisms are far too complex for them to be programs. No doubt they're sentient lifeforms. I wonder if I can use this to help my search for a means to the Digital World…"
"Can it really do that?!" Keisuke gasped.
"Shhh!"
The four Digimon turned around and came running towards them. "Uh, oh." Keisuke gasped. He opened a screen and created a security wall blocking the Digimon who proceeded to swing at it.
Eggman gulped. "Is that gonna hold?"
"Doubtful." Keisuke murmured.
Sage teleported onto the other side of the wall and held her hand out. A red blast knocked the Digimon back and they turned her attention to her. "Tri-Horn Attack!" The Triceramon charged towards her. Sage dodged the attack. The Ravemon flew towards her, and she teleported as he swung his sword.
"Savage Emperor!" Crowmon fired a golden blast. Sage grunted as she blocked it with her hands.
"Fatal Flame!" The Goldramon joined the attack and blew away her guard. The girl yelped as she was knocked to the floor.
"Sage!" Eggmaon shouted. Keisuke unlocked his security wall so he and Eggman could run to her. As Eggman picked her up Keisuke set another security wall to block off the Digimon. "Sage, speak to me! Are you alright?!"
The girl opened her eyes. "I am functional…" She looked up at the man holding her. "…Thank you."
Keisuke watched the wall crack. "Oh, this is bad! Sage, I need a plan here!"
"Running simulations…calculating…" The girl got up. "I have analyzed a possible scenario."
"Let's hear it!" Eggman said. "Quick!"
"This area was created by Keisuke's memories. That means these Digimon were created from his memories too."
"Yeah, I fought these things before." Keisuke said.
"Therefore, if I can use this system in conjunction with your mental data…I can create replications of your Digimon to fight these enemy combatants."
Keisuke looked at her in surprise. "Can you really do that?"
"Hold on a second!" Eggman said. "How can you be so sure that they won't attack us as well?!"
"These Digimon are likely attacking because Keisuke remembers the Digimon of this area being violent and destructive. But Keisuke's partner Digimon were his allies, his defenders. If this data comes from those memories…"
"That still seems like a lot to leave up to faith!" Eggman yelped as the wall cracked further.
Keisuke backed away from it. "We're kinda low on options here sir!"
Eggman grimaced. "…Keisuke…just how much do you trust these Digimon of yours?"
Keisuke gave him a serious look. "More than I trust most people. They're…my family."
Eggman looked at him in the eye before noticing the barrier looked ready to come down at any moment. He turned to Sage. "Do it!"
"Understood." Sage flew over to Keisuke and put a hand on his forehead. "Try to focus on what your Digimon were like. Preferably when they were at their strongest."
Keisuke closed his eyes and thought about his Digimon. And when his HerculesKabuterimon Digivolved during their final battle. Then Triceramon and Goldramon punched through the security wall shattering it like glass. Eggman yelped and backed away. "Sage, get away!"
Sage kept her eyes closed and her right hand on Keisuke's forehead. "Scan complete." She held her left hand towards the stampeding Digimon. Ravemon was upon them and swung his katana.
Then a bright light came. When it died down a tall Digimon with a white scarf, black armor, and a gold belt caught Ravemon's blade before he snapped it in half and punched the Digimon away. A giant metal serpent of gold and silver had its long tail wrapped around Goldramon before he flung it aside. And a giant purple beetle with orange wings held Triceramon and Crowmon in its hands before tossing them away. Eggman gapped at the sight. "Egad…"
Keisuke looked up at them and gasped. They really were there. "PileVolcamon…MetalSeadramon…TyrantKabuterimon…" The four Digimon that attacked them got up and charged. Keisuke put on his game face. "Attack!"
The copies of his Digimon rushed in. PileVolcamon uppercutted Triceramon into the air and it fell onto it's back. He then ejected a burning boulder from the volcano on his back and jumped up and grabbed it. "Volcanic Driver!" He descended onto Triceramon in a fiery explosion.
MetalSeadramon knocked Crowmon onto the ground with his tail before charging energy into the cannon on his face. "River of Power!" He shot a bright blue laser that eradicated it.
TyrantKabuterimon flew up to where Ravemon and Goldramon were. "Shine of Bee!" He let lose a fiery explosion that incinerated both Mega Level Digimon on the spot.
When the explosion died down the three Digimon copies aproached Keisuke. The teenager smiled at them. "Even when you're not here, I can always depend on you three." He watched as the copies vanished in a stream of 0s and 1s. "Thank you."
Eggman stood up. "I don't believe what I just saw!"
Sage floated over to them. "I have secured a route to our usual meeting spot in Cyber Space. We must return. Before more replicated Digimon attack."
"Er, yes, of course." Eggman said. Sage teleported the three of them back to the city area. Eggman then turned to Keisuke. "That was incredible! I had no idea your Digimon were that powerful Keisuke! They rival the likes of Perfect Chaos!"
Keisuke grinned. "You think that was something, you should see the real deal!"
"Indeed." Eggman nodded. "Another reason for me to hasten my work with accessing the Digital World. I have a few ideas on how to do so, but I need to iron them out a little."
"Thanks doc." Keisuke said. "It won't be much longer until I can see my Digimon again. Erika too."
"Speaking of Digimon, how'd it go with Takumi? Were you able to persuade him?" Keisuke looked down sadly and that told Eggman what he needed to know. "I see… that's unfortunate."
"It seems confronting the Cyber Sleuth is inevitable." Sage said. "He and Sonic are on the verge of discovering the Titan."
"I know…" Keisuke sighed. "…I really don't want to fight Takumi…but if he goes through with destroying the Titan and that Digimon… I can't let that happen." He put on a serious expression. "I have to stop him! For his sake and everyone's!"
Eggman nodded. "Do what you have to do Keisuke."
And there you have it. Our masked man is none other than the protagonist of Hacker's Memory himself. I wonder if anyone who played the game saw this coming. Anyway, NOW we can get on with my favorite part: the boss fight. What will Keisuke and Sage do to hinder Sonic and Takumi? Will the fastest thing alive and the Cyber Sleuth turn the final Titan and Fallen Royal Knight into rust? Or will their enemies grind them right down to dust? Next week someone's going to take this as a lesson.
Cause it's all that we know!