Ben10 & Digimon Tamers
Heroes and Humanity
Part 02: Humanity and Heroes
Presage – Chapter 77.2
Originally Written: Monday, June 05, 2017 347PM to Tuesday, June 06, 2017 124AM
Modified: Wednesday, September 27, 2017 356PM to 521PM
. . . . .
"You are a very sly Leomon." Albedo glared at the tall Digimon. Behind him Hugh stood holding quite a few wooden planks as though they were just a large pile of freshly picked cotton.
The Leomon just smiled, holding a small wooden container of wooden nails. "Well, you did tell me you didn't want to play soccer."
He shifted his cross body bag on his shoulder. He scowled, but there was no threat or force behind the act.
Albedo managed to clean up all his equipment and finish his scans a bit before Swamps, Fridge and the other soccer players finished their soccer game. He watched the ending of the match. He was quite sure he had a good understanding of soccer, and he was quite sure that whatever it was they were playing wasn't it. He couldn't fault the digimon entirely. Many of them were short stubby things with limbs completely unsuitable for playing such a game.
Afterward, Leomon invited them to the village, where he happened to be staying, possibly indefinitely. It was a small village, where champions and strong rookies spent many days building new homes and structures, while the weaker rookies and in-training digimon kept watch for danger. Then he heavily suggested that Albedo assist them.
It wasn't quite what Albedo was expecting Digimon to do from Jenrya and the other Tamers' descriptions of the Digital World. He supposed there was no longer so much of an instinctual need to kill every other digimon a digimon came across without the threat of D-Reaper looming over their heads. Without that threat, things seemed to have calmed considerably, from what he could tell at any rate.
A small group of rookie and in-training digimon followed Albedo around from the moment Leomon had kindly "requested" that he find some way to help with growing their village. A few of the stronger ones carried supplies of their own.
He'd deny it if anyone asked, but he was personally fond of the Yuramon sitting on the bench by one of the older homes in the area. Mainly because it left everyone alone, just staring and watching, even when he sat down next to it for a small meal. All that "hair" of its reminded him of an old man with a lot of wisdom under his belt. Silly, as he knew it was, the small baby digimon reminded him of a time before he realized how foolish and stupid his mentor was, and that, was nice...
When they first arrived, Ryo had suggested that he not use his Anodite powers here. Albedo was still under his "house arrest" as it was. And the middle of a village, no matter how small, wasn't a good place to attract attention to yourself. He didn't have any objections. Using the ability wore him out anyway. For a short time after using it, no matter how hard he tried not to be, he always found himself slightly more respectful of Tennyson's magic using lackey.
"Swamps." Albedo looked at the Methanosian as he passed another cross section of path between buildings.
The alien looked at him, a few pieces of firewood in his hands. "Yello!" He called with a smile.
"Have you seen Ryo?"
Swamps looked off to the side, thinking. "Not recently. Fridge saw 'im before sunrise. Said he seemed restless."
"Restless...?" Albedo looked at the ground. Just what was going on? He shook his head, "What about Jenrya and Terriermon?"
"Village center. Helpin' clean up from lunch. Said he'll come hang with you when he's done." He looked at Hugh with an expression Albedo couldn't decipher.
"Beelzemon?"
"Went to get Ryo, I think."
He nodded in thanks. Swamps put down the pile of firewood and followed Albedo obediently. Albedo and Leomon led Hugh to his destination, where he dropped off the wooden boards.
"Go to your human." Leomon looked at Albedo with a smile.
Albedo blinked at him.
"You haven't stopped working since I requested of you."
Swamps clapped him on the back with a loud laugh. "That's how he is!" He squeezed Albedo's shoulder, and the male debated on giving him one of his patented glares. "Doesn't stop 'till the job's done!"
"If you insist on working more after your break, I can't imagine anyone would mind. Just do not overwork yourself."
"Alright." He thought for a moment as he placed his hands in his pockets. "I think we'll be here for a while longer yet." He turned around, and Swamps and Hugh followed him like lost puppies. 'I wonder what Ryo is up to?'
As he neared the village center, he took his hands out of his jacket pockets, and pulled at his jacket and shirt sleeves, gripping them tightly in his hands. He watched Terriermon crack jokes, making Digimon laugh as his Jenrya sat next to him smiling softly.
He took a step back. "Were there always this many digimon here?" He murmured to himself.
"Uh, yea?" Swamps looked at him. "Too many?" He whispered.
How did he not notice all the digimon? The majority were tiny things, but still, there were at least 30 digimon here alone. He shuddered, and nodded. He took a few more steps back.
"I-I'll get H-Henry for you." Hugh stepped forward.
Albedo calmly turned around. Swamps followed him easily. He stopped in front of a familiar bench. The Yuramon looked up at him curiously. The angle made it's hair shift and it sneezed.
Swamps laughed and said something in Methanosian.
The Yuramon looked at him.
"It means something akin to 'bless you', like humans say." Albedo explained.
"Oooh." The Yuramon spoke quietly. "Thank you."
"Does...?" Albedo lowered his head.
"What?" Swamps questioned.
He pulled at his sleeves. "I was fine before." He snapped.
"You didn't notice 'cause you kept yourself busy. It's whatcha been doing the entire time."
He looked at Swamps. "What?"
"It's easier to not notice the things that make you freak out when you're busy." Swamps looked at the side. "So we let you do what you do."
Albedo looked away. "Why do I feel like that is something you probably were not supposed to tell me?"
"It wouldn't change nothing would it?"
"I suppose not." He kicked at the ground. "I used to easily walk around a group of students larger than that. I could follow my foolish mentor around the facilities on Galvan prime, Galvan in every direction you looked, far as the eye could see, and not once..."
"You weren't hurt like this back then."
He clenched his fists. His eyes burned.
"It gets better, I like to think, but worrying about what you used to be able to do and what you can and can't do now doesn't help nothing."
He shook his head.
Swamps sighed, "You're doing way better than me."
He snorted.
"Hey! Hey! After all that stuff with me, it took a year before the thought of leaving my house even entered my mind."
He sat down on the bench and looked at Swamps. "Really?"
Swamps looked off to the side, "Yea. I was utterly terrified of every Methanosian that came my way. Couldn't even look out my window."
"I would say you've come a long way then."
Swamps grinned. "You're doing fine too. They say 'you're your own worst critic'. Or something like that. Don't know who they are though."
Albedo leaned his head back against the building behind him. "Hah." He closed his eyes as Swamps chuckled.
"Gah!" Swamps shouted a few moments later. "How much did you hear!?"
He opened his eyes and looked at Jenrya.
"No matter the amount, it was more than you wanted me to." Jenrya rubbed the back of his head. He kind of looked like Takato doing that.
Albedo couldn't see him, but he figured from the way Swamps was hunched over, the Methanosian was analyzing him.
"Jenrya will keep your secret." He closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the building.
The area went silent of their voices for a few moments. Eventually Swamps gasped. "For seriously?"
"Yup." Jenrya spoke.
A small smile graced Albedo's lips.
"I can't believe you told him that one." Terriermon spoke up. He sounded more subdued than Albedo was used to, despite his humorous disposition a short while ago.
"Just felt right to say that one." Jenrya replied, "Looks like Ryo's on his way back."
A short while later, Albedo felt pressure on his legs. He looked down to find Jenrya using his legs as a backrest as he sat on the floor. "Do you know what he was doing?" He looked down at the D-Arc Jenrya held in his hand.
"Not especially."
Albedo sighed. Why was Ryo suddenly so silent with him? The more he thought of possible reasons, the heavier his stomach felt. He wished Leomon hadn't told him to rest. "He is moving quickly." He noted.
Jenrya quickly lowered his D-Arc.
Albedo narrowed his eyes. "What is he doing?"
"He's just scouting around the area."
"What for?" Swamps folded his arms. "There's nothing we should be looking out for, right?"
"Digimon looking to start trouble is a big one." Jenrya explained.
"No one would attack so many folks at once. At least, not by themselves." Swamps noted.
Hugh poked Swamps in the side none-too-lightly.
"Owww! What the hell, Hugh?"
"D-don't upset A-Albedo." The Vaxasaurian snapped.
"I'm just saying." Swamps folded his arms.
Albedo sat in his own silence as they debated. Swamps did have a point, if something was out there, he'd want to know, so he could combat it. He's had his share of opponents ambush him. It was never a pretty experience.
"This is gonna go on forever." Terriermon spoke, voice in a whine. "And he's already freaking out."
He glared at the small digimon.
"What?"
'Non Biological life-signs detected.'
"Shut up." He snapped. Swamps and the others looked at him confused. He looked down at Jenrya, and wished the male wasn't pressed up against his legs. 'Did you hear Juggernaut?'
'Non Biological life signs detected.'
Jenrya shifted, and stood up sharply. The dot on his D-Arc was not moving anymore. "Shit." Jenyra clenched his fists. "Get Fridge. Now." Jenrya looked at Swamps. The Necroffrigian had stayed behind at the village center preoccupied with Digimon who had wanted to hear him sing. "Quietly."
"Got it." Swamps clapped Hugh on his arm.
Hugh nodded, looking around.
Swamps ran off.
"Are you going to tell me now?" Albedo circled around Jenrya and folded his arms. "Just what in the Digital World is odd enough that it's picked up as a 'Nonbiological life-sign'?"
Jenrya shook his head.
"I-if you have Ryo's signal, where's Beelzemon's?" Hugh questioned as he looked around.
"D-Arcs don't pick up Digimon signals like that. If they did, there'd always be a whole slew of dots on our screens whenever we came to the Digital World. Do you see anything?"
"T-there's two people m-making their way towards this d-direction, b-but I've never seen them before. I-I don't know who they are."
Albedo looked past Jenrya while they spoke. He barely registered what they were saying.
The Timewalker leaned on the wall next to the bench. He looked at Albedo, a frown on his face. "I'd expect you of all people to remember that every action has a consequence, good or bad."
"No point." Terriermon sighed. "We're in a 'not my fight'."
Albedo walked over to Yuramon and held out his arms. The small digimon hopped into them easily. Jenrya grabbed his wrist. The male pulled him forward into a sharp run.
The Timewalker yelled after him, "I don't recommend looking behind you!"
Hugh's footsteps were loud and heavy a bit behind him.
"Don't." Jenrya looked back at him.
He looked at Jenrya's stern silver eyes. Terriermon held on tightly to Jenrya's shoulder. His beady black eyes gave nothing away.
"Don't turn around, okay? Don't look behind you."
He somehow made himself nod. He knew he could run faster, but a lead weight of dread deep within him slowed down his pace. Digimon shouted various attacks. Albedo swore he heard something crash into a building.
Jenrya pushed him forward. "Don't look back."
Gunshots echoed in the area. Albedo pushed himself forward, mind racing. Just what was Ryo dealing with? Why didn't he...A sharp chill of terror filled Albedo's person.
"Lots of us like Ryo Akiyama. He's the special one." Yuramon spoke softly, voice muffled by all of its hair. "Left."
Albedo sharply turned left. Did...did Tennyson or his lackey's find him? Those two...
"Go right. Leomon's close by."
Something brushed up against his back. He openly screamed. Sheer will somehow stopped him from instinctively turning around. He heard something repeatedly bang against metal behind him.
"Gargo Pellets!"
Leomon raised his arms in front of him.
"You should duck." Yuramon said.
Albedo ducked while circling around Leomon.
"Fist of the Beast King!"
Albedo stopped behind a nearby building.
"What a fast creature. Running doesn't make sense." Albedo placed Yuramon down on the ground nearby. His eyes were wide as he resisted looking anywhere but forward. "Why...?" He whispered. "Why did you?"
"Ryo is the special one."
Metal struck metal once more.
"So we helped, even though he hadn't asked." Yuramon explained.
Albedo concentrated. Paradox and Jenrya both had told him not to, but there was no way he was getting away from whatever had caught up to them, unless he utilized an alien form. An alien form would put him even higher on their radar however.
Bluish pink mana coated his hands. Leomon went flying back past him skidding against the ground. He tumbled and collapsed in a heap.
Albedo watched the digimon struggle to get back up. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and opened them once more, his choice made. He stepped out from behind the building. The mana died in his hands. His eyes went wide.
Green eyes looked at him, a devious smirk goaded him. Red hair taunted Albedo as the male entity tilted his head. "There you are. You've gotten away from us for a little bit there, but we've found you now. We've been ordered to return you to your cell." The smirk turned into a full blown grin. Albedo would have thought it psychotic, but it was nowhere near other psychotic grins he's seen. This one seemed dull, without much force put behind it. That made it infinitely more terrifying somehow.
Albedo stood, a scream caught in his throat as a short gasp. Instinctively he brought his arms up to cover his face and head.
Paradox blocked the attacker's arm with a cane from who knows where. Albedo only noticed because the male attacker was looking to attack him, and Paradox was standing right in front of him. A flurry of bubbles floated out from behind Albedo, sticking to the plumber impostor.
The male jumped back as the bubbles popped loudly. "Do rethink your actions, Paradox."
Shivers wracked Albedo's frame, and the Galvan turned human thought he may fall, unable to get back up or resist as he was dragged back to Hypnos like a ragdoll. He took another step back in reflex. Try as he might, he could not bring himself to look at those dull green eyes for more than a second.
A digimon crashed into a partially built building further up ahead. Fire liberally shot from Swamps' hands as he smacked into the wall next to him with an unbecoming shout.
Albedo clenched his fists. The red haired male now held up one of his arms, holding the palm open towards him and Paradox. Albedo saw glimpses of silver up their sleeve as he instinctively took a step back.
His hand projected a holographic screen. Another being, a human-like being who closely resembled Ben Tennyson stood next to an older human male with deep brown eyes and short matching hair and a goatee sprinkled with a few gray strands here and there. The Tennyson look-a-like held a long purple blade at the human male's throat. Sakuyamon stood off to the side, yet in front of them, arms hanging in defeat.
Paradox lowered his cane. "No one ever does anything half strength these days. Always all in." He muttered, "Ryo will not be happy when he finds out about this. He's got quite the temper on him, especially when you attack his father."
Albedo swallowed thickly.
"One wrong move, and the old man loses a lot of blood, very quickly." The red head narrowed his eyes at them.
Gargomon shouted in pain. A familiar pain shot through his body. The male laughed a psychotic, mocking laugh. Albedo screamed. He seized up, and crumpled to the ground, unconscious.
A/N:Seriously. -points to genres- It only gets more intense.